Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act

HR 1349, the Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act, excludes Medicare participation for providers who prescribe, administer, dispense, or furnish abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth unless they meet strict conditions. Specifically, providers must be physicians who physically examine the patient, be present in the same room during drug administration, and schedule an in-person follow-up within 14 days. The bill defines "abortion-inducing drug" as any substance used to terminate a clinically diagnosable pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause fetal death. This directly affects Medicare-covered telehealth abortion services, requiring in-person care for such treatments rather than remote consultations. The exclusion is permanent for non-compliant providers under Medicare rules.