Legislation filed to expand access to medical abortions in Del.

DOVER, Del. – Lawmakers filed legislation on Wednesday that would expand Delawareans’ access to safe and legal medical abortions.

House Bill 320 would allow physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe medication for the termination of pregnancy, including Mifeprex, Mifepristone, and Misoprostol. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan, Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend.

In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)0 first approved the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for Mifeprex. Then in 2019, the FDA approved the generic version of Mifeprex, Mifepristone. A regiment approved by the FDA in 2016 for Mifeprex and Mifepristone includes the use of Misoprostol. Medical abortions are the most common abortion regimen in the U.S. and are extremely safe, with less than .31% of patients reporting major complications.

Physician assistants and advanced practice nurses have the training and authority to prescribe nearly all medications, however, despite their ability to provide safe, low-risk access to medical abortions, the current state code allows only qualified physicians to prescribe and administer abortion medication.

A total of 18 states and the District of Columbia allow qualified medical professionals, including physician assistances and APRNs, to prescribe and administer abortion medications.

House Bill 320 has been assigned to the House Health & Human Development Committee.