The Biden administration has finalized a new rule that shields the medical records of women who cross state lines to seek an abortion where it is legal. The regulation aims to protect women in states where abortion is illegal from prosecution. Under the updated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, medical providers and health insurers are prohibited from disclosing patients' medical information, including reproductive health care records.
The new rule prevents state or local officials in states with strict abortion laws from accessing medical records related to reproductive health care for civil, criminal, or administrative investigations in states where abortion is legal. This protection extends to women seeking fertility, contraception, miscarriage care, and abortions. However, the rule does not cover women ordering abortion pills online from states with strict abortion laws.
