The Trump administration rescinded guidance put in place by former President Joe Biden that directed U.S. hospitals to provide abortions on an emergency basis when they’re medically necessary to stabilize patients.
The guideline was established in July 2022 under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that protected national abortion rights. It was enacted under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services after women reported being turned away from hospitals while facing serious pregnancy complications, including severe bleeding.
The rule required Medicare-funded hospitals to provide an emergency exam or stabilizing treatment. The majority of U.S. hospitals participate in the federal insurance program