The legislation, HB 2028, passed 32 votes to six in the Senate and 108 to 13 in the House, but those who oppose the law’s anti-abortion clause claim lawmakers turned a healthcare bill into a political one, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
“The bill has been hijacked and highly politicized by inserting an unnecessary and unprecedented non-severability clause,” Kansas Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, told The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Kansas already bans telemedicine-assisted abortions through a separate state statute, and if a court rules the abortion section of the telemedicine law cannot be enforced, the entire law becomes invalid.
Retired physician and Kansas Sen. Barbara Bollier, MD, R-Mission Hills, said she couldn’t support the bill because it was an invasion of private physician-patient relationship. “It interferes with the constitutional right to decide, in collaboration with a physician, an individual’s medical care,” Dr. Bollier said, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal.
The law permits healthcare providers to assess, diagnose, consult, treat, educate and care for patients through real-time audio-video conferencing. However, its definition of “telemedicine” doesn’t allow voice-only telephone communication, e-mail or fax.
More articles on telehealth:
Starting June 11, VA physicians can practice telemedicine across state lines
In-person appointments cost $100 more than virtual ones — Here’s how telehealth can save patients time and money
Emory Healthcare teams up with Australian hospital on remote ICU
