In a 71-57 vote, the Minnesota House of Representatives removed abortion coverage from the state’s health care exchange bill this week. The health care exchanges are a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, which was passed in 2010.
The PPACA requires states to offer an online source of insurance plans, or allow the federal government to do it for them. According to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), “the health care exchange bill in the House now reflects the will of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the will of the people of Minnesota, the majority of whom oppose abortion and abortion coverage.”
The Minnesota Senate has a version of the bill, known as S.F. 1. The bill must become law by March 31, but the legislature will break from March 25 to April 1, therefore the bill must pass before then.
MCCL Legislative Associate Andrea Rau notes that “abortion is not health care and it should not be among the procedures covered in the state exchange’s insurance plans. MCCL is pleased to see the House recognize that abortion is outside the realm of health care.”
You can read the MCCL press release here.
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