Governor Janet Mills, the first women governor of Maine, signed a bill to improve access to critical reproductive health care for women across Maine. The bill, offered by Governor Mills and sponsored by Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, will allow physicians assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions in addition to physicians. As Attorney General, Governor Mills introduced a similar bill during the last legislative session.
“Allowing qualified and licensed medical professionals to perform abortions will ensure that Maine women, especially those in rural areas, are able to access critical reproductive health care serves when and where they need them from qualified providers they know and trust. There health care professionals are trained in family planning, counseling, and abortion procedures, the overwhelming majority of which are completed without complications,” said Governor Mills. “By signing this bill into law, Maine is defending the rights of women and taking a step towards equalizing access to care as other states are seeking to undermine, rollback or outright eliminate these services.”
“States across the country including, Vermont and New Hampshire have already eliminated this outdated restriction on abortion care,” said Sara Gideon. “This law will allow women to receive the care they need from a provider they trust and eliminate the financial and logistical hurdles they face today.”
Seven other states – New Hampshire, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, New York and Oregon – already permit nurse practitioners and APC’s to perform abortions.