Enacts the New York state abortion clinical training program act

• Democratic15

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Liz Krueger says this is needed

The State of New York is committed to making abortion services accessi- ble to residents and individuals who travel here from other states for care. Although a majority of abortion care is performed through medica- tion abortion, standard reproductive health care procedures are also utilized as necessary to perform abortions, depending on an individual's medical case. It is critical, therefore, that New York maintain an adequate number of health care practitioners who are trained in perform- ing a full range of abortion and related reproductive health care services. Establishment of a state abortion clinical training program is vital and will help to address current provider shortages and training needs that exist in New York, as well as help to address training needs that have arisen nationwide following the Dobbs decision. The State of New York has shortages in abortion providers who are geographically accessible and able to perform a full range of abortion services. There is a great- er concentration of abortion providers in the Downstate region; nonethe- less, there is a shortage of health care practitioners who provide abortion care later in pregnancy. Many individuals in other parts of the State are unable to access abortion care in their communities, partic- ularly in rural areas. Although there are community-based abortion facilities in every region of the state, only 7 out of 10 regions have community-based facilities that perform abortion care beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy. In 3 regions, only 2 facilities provide abortion care up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. As a result, many individuals have to travel further, and in some cases have to leave the state, to access care. Under New York State law, physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) - physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and licensed midwives - are authorized to perform abortion care within their scope of practice, but access to training in performing abortion services is not available to most of the medical specialties. For example, NYS-licensed APCs were authorized to perform abortion care within their scope of practice in 2017; however, structured training programs have not been available. There are licensed physicians such as Family Medicine Physi- cians, Primary Care Physicians, Emergency Room Physicians, and Pediatri- cians who would integrate abortion and miscarriage management care into their practices, or expand their reproductive health care services, but they have not had access to the necessary training. Although OB/GYN residents generally have access to training in performing abortion care, training opportunities may be lacking. Family Medicine residents have limited access to training in abortion care. States with abortion bans are experiencing a training crisis, as OB/GYN residents have extremely limited access to training in performing abortion care. Since the Dobbs ruling, 70 percent of medical students are completing residencies in abortion restrictive states according to analysis published by The Lancet. Although the New York State abortion clinical training program will prioritize in-state training needs, medical residents visiting from other states may be eligible to receive training. There is a clear need for a structured state abortion clinical training program that will enable APCs, licensed physicians, and OB/GYN and Fami- ly Medicine residents to receive the training they need to integrate abortion care into their practices. This critical training initiative will help to address abortion care deserts throughout New York and ensure there is an adequate number of health care practitioners who are trained in performing a full range of abortion and related reproductive health care services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.