(More On) The GOP Abortion Bill

Wow. They just can’t stop, can they.

This, from a press release put out by NARAL, Pro-Choice America.

Even as they attempted to modify this rape-related provision found in two pieces of legislation, H.R. 3 and H.R. 358, these lawmakers inserted a new provision on page six of H.R.358, sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), that would allow hospitals to refuse to provide abortion care when necessary to save a woman’s life.

“Anti-choice politicians have gone from redefining rape to denying abortion care to women who will die without it,” Keenan said. “When it comes to attacking women’s freedom and privacy, these politicians know no bounds. This debate is just getting started. Any member of Congress who has signed his or her name to this agenda must be held accountable for such extreme attacks against women’s reproductive-health services.”

Essentially, all hospitals in American that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding must provide emergency care to all who come through their doors. So indeed, if a patient needing an emergency abortion comes to the door of an anti-abortion hospital, the hospital must perform the procedure under the definition of “emergency care.” But, now this.  The emphasis is mine.

The bill, known currently as H.R. 358 or the "Protect Life Act," is an amendment to the 2010 health care reform law that would modify the way Obamacare deals with abortion coverage. Much of its language is modeled on the so-called Stupak Amendment, an anti-abortion provision pro-life Democrats attempted to insert into the reform law during the health care debate last year. But critics say a new section of the bill inserted into the language just this week would go far beyond Stupak, allowing hospitals that receive federal funds but are opposed to abortions to turn away women in need of emergency pregnancy termination to save their lives.

I have no doubt, that as in the case of redefining “rape,” the outrage will be fast and furious.