Ohio sued over ban on abortion pill telemedicine

Planned Parenthood and its co-plaintiffs announced that they were suing Ohio’s Department of Health, USA, over the state’ ban on telemedicine of abortion pills. The suit follows the state’s passage of a law that requires physicians to be present when a patient takes abortion-inducing medication in January 2021. Advocates say the legislation presents unnecessary barriers, especially for those who may already face difficulties accessing healthcare. A report notes that abortion is one of the few forms of care that faces enduring legal restrictions despite the rise in telemedicine. In the suit, Planned Parenthood highlighted that the state of Ohio has been supportive of telehealth, requiring private insurance providers to offer coverage on the same basis as for in-person care and parity for reimbursement for telemedicine through Medicaid.