AB 589/SB 547: Abortion Accessibility Act

This bill would remove the following restrictions on abortion care in Wisconsin:

1. State-mandated biased information and delay - currently patients are required to attend two appointments because doctors must provide a state-mandated booklet that contains medically inaccurate information interfering with the patient’s right to informed consent.

2. Telehealth and medication abortion restrictions - currently medication abortion cannot be provided unless the physician performs a physical exam and is physically present in the room when the medication is taken.

3. Ultrasound requirement - currently patients must receive an ultrasound even when medically unnecessary.

4. Admitting privileges restriction - only physicians who have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles may provide abortion care (this law has already been struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Court)

The bill also removes criminal penalties for non-physicians who perform abortions.