It is my hope that the regulations will be based purely on evidence-based medical practices that advance public health and should not impede women's access to essential health care.  Medically inappropriate and unnecessarily burdensome regulations would restrict access to essential health care services for the women of Virginia and further marginalize young, low-income, uninsured and minority women by decreasing their health care options.

 

Extensive, burdensome requirements for clinic buildings that are unrelated to the services health centers provide and have no proven medical benefit will reduce or eliminate patient access to health care.  The regulations threaten the continued availability of safe, legal first-trimester abortion and preventive reproductive health care in multiple locations throughout the state.  Women need more access to affordable, high quality health care, not less.

 

Thank you for considering what will advance women's access to good health care.