Wisconsin Bill Regarding Abortion-Inducing Drugs (AB 180)

If a pregnant patient is planning to have an abortion induced by an abortion-inducing drug regimen that includes mifepristone, the physician would be required to inform them that the ingestion of the first drug in the abortion-inducing drug regimen may not result in an immediate abortion and that, if the patient changes their mind after ingesting the first drug, they may be able to continue the pregnancy, and they should contact a physician to discuss options or consult the information provided in the materials that they are required to be given to locate a health care professional that can assist in counteracting the effects of the drug.

The state department of health services would be required to include with the written materials required by law for informed consent that a pregnant person considering an abortion must be given materials that are designed to inform them about the possibilities of continuing a pregnancy after ingesting an abortion-inducing drug including contact information for resources and health-care professionals that assist pregnant people in counteracting the effects of the drug and continuing their pregnancies.

Reporting Requirements

The bill would require a hospital, clinic, or other facility in which an induced abortion is performed to report additional information in its required annual report to the state department of health services.

The additional information should include:

• the number of previous induced abortions, if any;
• whether the induced abortion was paid for by private health coverage, public assistance coverage, or self-pay; and
• the reason for the induced abortion.

The bill would also require the reporting of the specific method of chemical or surgical abortion.

Current state law requires the department of health services to publish annual demographic summaries of the reported information except that which reveals the identity of a patient, provider, or hospital, clinic, or other facility.

The bill would eliminate the anonymity of the hospital, clinic, or other facility in which the abortion was performed and requires that the annual summary by the department include information summarized by hospital, clinic, or other facility in which the abortion was performed.

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Related Legislation

Companion bill to SB 174.

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Latest Action

4/19/19 – Introduced; referred to House Health Committee.

5/15/19 – Passed the House in a 62-35 vote.

6/5/19 – Passed the Senate in a 19-13 vote.

6/21/19 – Vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.