Learn about Virginia’s proposed ’emergency’ regulations for abortion clinics

Welcome to our Wednesday health chat. Today’s topic is the proposed “emergency regulations” for the licensing of abortion clinics in Virginia. Today’s expert is Erin Zabel, marketing director for Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia.

Erin, please let readers know when you’re available to answer questions.

Abortion is a very uncomfortable topic that we tend to talk about only at election time and then the arguments are in the abstract.

I am here Prue, thanks!

Welcome Erin.

Thanks for having me!

Readers: you can ask your questions about current and proposed abortion regulations in Virginia now. All questions are completely anonymous unless you choose to give your name.

Erin, Please explain to readers what the proposed new regulations are for clinics in Virginia and what the impact may be for those providing the service.

The statistics show that there are more than 25,000 abortions a year in Virginia — that’s about one in 5 of all pregnancies are terminated. The proposed regulations are therefore likely to affect thousands of women in Virginia. Let’s TALK about them.

Sure. The new regulations include a variety of patient safety standards that PPSEV has been doing for years. The main issue with the draft regulations is that they require all providers in the state to adhere to 2010 guidelines for design and construction of health care facilities that are intended for new construction, not existing buildings.

I’ve heard that most of the state’s clinics would not be able to meet those standards. Why is this?

These requirements will impose a huge burden on existing providers. Both in time and expense–and have nothing to do with quality of patient care.

Can you give readers some examples of the proposed new requirements?

Most providers operate in doctors’ offices, similar to those that provide dental surgery, colonoscopies, eye surgery, plastic surgery, etc,

First trimester abortion is a very safe procedure with a very low complication rate–it doesn’t require the types of structural changes that these new regulations require.

So, my understanding is that the draft regulations would affect only those clinics providing abortion services and not other office surgeries?

To build an entire new building is extremely costly, and will not be possible for all providers in the state.

Correct–abortion has been singled out for political reasons–even though it carries one of the lowest complication rates of any outpatient procedure.

If the Board of Health passes these draft regulations, what do you anticipate will be the impact?

At this point it’s hard to say, but it is very likely Virginia women will have even fewer options in terms of accessing early, safe abortion care.

Readers: This is your chance to ask questions about the proposed draft regulations for abortion clinics. The Board of Health votes on them on Sept. 15 in Richmond.

Already, 86% of Virginia’s counties lack an abortion provider.

What happens if a woman is unable to access a local provider? What are her options?

I do want to say that Planned Parenthood is very supportive of regulations that adhere to medicine and ensure patient safety–but requiring early, safe abortion to be done in an ambulatory surgical center is not necessary and has in no way been shown to improve patient care.

The only type of health center that is being affected by these regulations are those doing 5 or more abortions a month.

Is that a month or a year?

Women unable to access early, safe abortion care may turn to other means that will be physically harmful.

Correct–ONLY those providing 5 or more abortions per month.

Most private Ob/GYN providers do not provide abortion services.

If they did, they would be subject to the same regulations, yes.

Is a “d and c” the same thing as an abortion?

Our hope is that the board of health will amend these regulations to better reflect sound science and proven medical standards before they are passed.

Could you tell readers where they can access the draft regulations to make comments before the vote on Sept. 15?

The two procedures are very similar, yes–and docs providing D&Cs in their offices are not subject to the same requirements.

What amendments would you like to see? Could you give specifics on this?

YES! They are available on the board of health Web site and they can also access them, sign a petition or make their voices heard in other ways at www.coalitionforwomenshealth.org.

Not sure at this point–again, our sincere hope is that the board of health will amend the regulations to reflect medicine and not politics.

Readers: We are talking to Erin Zabel, marketing director of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, about the proposed new draft regulations for abortion clinics. Ask your questions now.

That’s a question regarding OB/GYN licensure and ACOG–hard for me to respond.

The Department of Health web site, where readers can view the proposed draft regulations is at www.vdh.virginia.gov

The point is that most women access early safe abortion in health centers that will be affected by these regulations.

These centers also provide a wide range of preventative reproductive health care too–often low-cost, so if they close these services will not be available either.

I would like to add to guest’s question about medical vs. surgical abortion. What percentage of procedures, approximately, do not require surgery?

GREAT question, and yes this applies to medication abortion as well.

A health center must adhere to 2010 building standards to even dispense the medication abortion pill.

About 30%.

So 30 percent do not require surgery?

About 30% of women choose the medication abortion pill as opposed to surgical abortion.

There are requirements for placement of closets, square footage requirmements, width of hallways, fire safety ratings of walls and ceilings…

Again, these 2010 building codes are requirements for NEW construction, not existing health centers.

Readers – we have just a few minutes left for you to ask your questions of Erin Zabel of Planned Parenthood about the proposed new draft regulations for clinics providing abortion services.
For more health news, go to www.dailypress.com/health every day for updated info.

The board of health is made up of physicians who are licensed by the board of medicine, as well as laywers on both boards–they have two totally different functions.

Did Planned Parenthood have any input into the proposed regulations?

There is a women’s health coalition in the state made up of multiple organizations and providers, including Planned Parenthood who attempted to help with the regulations–but the draft regulations don’t reflect the input.

In response to the question about “challenging” the regulations if passed — public comment is permitted in writing before the Sept. 15 vote — and the public can also go to the Board of Health meeting in Richmond on Sept. 15 and speak for 2 minutes.

Yes–because these are emergency regulations, this will be the only opportunity for the public to weigh in.

To see the proposed regulations, go to www.vdh.state.va.us. The public can send written comments to [email protected] or fax them to 804-864-7022, attention Commissioner Karen Remley. The state Board of Health will vote on the regulations at its quarterly meeting onl Thursday, Sept. 15. There will also be a 1-hour public comment period at the meeting prior to the vote.
The meeting is at the Wyndham Richmond Airport Hotel, 4700 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond; it starts at 9 a.m. but the regulations vote is on the agenda for after lunch.

These regulations will go into effect January 1 and there will be at least a year before final regulations will be put in place.

Erin – Can you explain the “emergency” nature of the regulations and how that’s affecting the process.

I have one last question — why does this affect low-income women more than others?

Typically the process would be over a much longer period of time with more opportunities for the public to weigh in. The legislation was written and passed as “emergency” so the timeline has been greatly compressed and there is only one opportunity for public comment before these are voted on and go into effect Jan. 1.

Even though there hasn’t been any evidence that women are not receiving quality care already.

It’s possible, although providers will have to adhere to those voted on September 15 for at least a year if not 18 months–so even if the new regulations are much different, some providers may not have been able to continue providing care throughout that period.

why does this affect low-income women more than others?

97% of women report no complications.

Low-income women will have a much harder time traveling to find a provider–and even if they can travel, we have a 24-hour consent law in Virginia, so they will need to travel at least twice, if not stay overnight to receive care.

Erin,
Once you’ve answered my low-income question I’m going to close out the chat. Please share any other information you would like with readers — contact information, PPSEVA services etc. Thanks so much.

Not to mention the increase in cost of the service if providers are forced to make expensive renovations to continue to provide abortoin care,

If anyone has any additional questions, please call us anytime at 757-499-PLAN(7526) or e-mail me directly at [email protected]. You can also visit our Web site at www.ppsev.org AND visit www.coalitionforwomenshealth.org.

PLEASE make your voice heard on this issue!

Erin- Thanks so much for your participation and information. I’m closing the chat now. For transcripts go to www.dailypress.com/health.
Again, to see the proposed regulations, go to www.vdh.state.va.us. The public can send written comments to [email protected] or fax them to 804-864-7022, attention Commissioner Karen Remley. The state Board of Health will vote on the regulations at its quarterly meeting onl Thursday, Sept. 15. There will also be a 1-hour public comment period at the meeting prior to the vote.
The meeting is at the Wyndham Richmond Airport Hotel, 4700 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond; it starts at 9 a.m. but the regulations vote is on the agenda for after lunch.

Thank you for having me!