On October 13, the House approved, 251-179, the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358), after defeating, 173-249, a motion to recommit by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) to require hospitals and health care providers to provide, in compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) (P.L. 99-272), abortions if medically necessary to save the life of the mother in the event of an emergency. EMTALA requires, in part, the treatment of pregnant women during medical emergencies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 358 on February 15 (see The Source, 2/18/11).
According to the committee report, the bill would amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-148) to prohibit any funds provided by the PPACA from being used to pay for abortions or the costs of any insurance plan that provides abortion coverage, except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. Insurance companies that offer abortion coverage would be required to collect separate premiums for abortion coverage and offer identical plans that do not provide abortion coverage.
H.R. 358 also would prohibit discrimination against health care providers or entities that do not provide abortion services.