STATEWIDE -- NEW LEGISLATION that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed on Monday will protect healthcare professionals who prescribe abortion-related medications. The new law allows providers prescribing abortion medication to request that the dispensing pharmacy print their practice's name and address on prescription labels instead of their individual names. The new measure also requires notice to the patient and ensures that pharmacies assist with this protective measure.
In 2023, Hochul signed legislation enacting a telehealth shield law (Chapter 138 of the laws of 2023), designed to provide extensive protection for New York-based doctors serving patients in those restrictive states through telehealth. This legislation safeguards health care practitioners in New York from states that may attempt to impose criminal penalties on them and offers protection from professional disciplinary actions or adverse decisions from medical malpractice insurers. The new legislation further enhances New York's existing shield law to enable providers within the State to prescribe abortion-treating medication to patients in hostile states, assisting women who might otherwise struggle to access abortion care. Medication abortion has emerged as a crucial option for many individuals seeking abortions in states with hostile laws.