Scarnati Supports Ban on
Taxpayer-Funded Elective Abortions
HARRISBURG -- Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) this week voted for legislation to extend the Commonwealth’s existing prohibition on using public funding for elective abortions to the proposed new insurance system created under the federal healthcare law.
Senate Bill 3 passed the Senate and now goes to the House for consideration. Under the measure, health insurers participating in taxpayer-subsidized state health insurance exchanges would be prohibited from providing coverage for elective abortions. The health insurance exchange system was created under the new federal health care law and is currently slated to be operational by 2014.
Under the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states have the authority to prohibit certain abortion coverage in these health plans Senator Scarnati said.
"Abortion coverage has long been prohibited in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Program, except in cases of rape, incest or to avert the death of the mother,” Scarnati said. “Senate Bill 3 would guarantee that taxpayer-supported plans in Pennsylvania’s health insurance exchanges, when created, are in line with this longstanding policy”.
Scarnati added, “Passage of this bill will assure that state money will not be used in our Commonwealth to support something that nearly 75 percent of the public opposes – the use of public funds to provide elective abortions."
Senate Bill 3 passed the Senate and now goes to the House for consideration. Under the measure, health insurers participating in taxpayer-subsidized state health insurance exchanges would be prohibited from providing coverage for elective abortions. The health insurance exchange system was created under the new federal health care law and is currently slated to be operational by 2014.
Under the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states have the authority to prohibit certain abortion coverage in these health plans Senator Scarnati said.
"Abortion coverage has long been prohibited in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Program, except in cases of rape, incest or to avert the death of the mother,” Scarnati said. “Senate Bill 3 would guarantee that taxpayer-supported plans in Pennsylvania’s health insurance exchanges, when created, are in line with this longstanding policy”.
Scarnati added, “Passage of this bill will assure that state money will not be used in our Commonwealth to support something that nearly 75 percent of the public opposes – the use of public funds to provide elective abortions."
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