Abortion and the House- and Senate-Passed Health Reform Measures

Jon O. Shimabukuro
Legislative Attorney


This report reviews the abortion provisions included in the health reform measures passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, was passed by the House on November 7, 2009, by a vote of 220-215. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009, by a vote of 60-39. The report also provides background information on the so-called "Hyde Amendment," which restricts the use of federal funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services to pay for elective abortion services provided through the Medicaid program. H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3590 address abortion coverage by plans that would be available through a health insurance exchange with reference to the Hyde Amendment. Finally, the report considers assertions that the abortion provisions, particularly those added by the so-called "Stupak Amendment" to H.R. 3962, may be unconstitutional because they would appear to restrict abortion coverage for women.


Date of Report: January 15, 2010
Number of Pages: 10
Order Number: R41013
Price: $29.95

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