Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

Medicaid-funded abortion bill -- matched only by one state -- up for public hearing

Charleston Gazette-Mail: A public hearing on a proposed ban of most Medicaid-funded abortions will be held Monday morning.

In 2017, a single woman making up to about $17,000 a year — 150 percent of the federal poverty level — in West Virginia was eligible for a Medicaid-funded abortion based on medical necessity. House Bill 4012 aims to prevent Medicaid dollars from being spent on any abortions in West Virginia, except to save the life of the mother.

Only South Dakota has similar legislation, which is stricter than the federal Hyde Amendment.

The Hyde Amendment prevents federal dollars from being spent on abortions, except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. During discussion of the bill during a House of Delegates health committee meeting last month, committee members denied a motion by Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, to add exceptions for rape and incest.

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