Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Ill. Judge Suspends Law Requiring Pregnancy Centers To Offer Details On Abortion Options
The Associated Press: Judge: Medical Providers Don't Have To Give Info On Abortion
An Illinois judge has suspended a state requirement that health care providers who oppose abortion must give information or referrals to patients seeking the procedure. Winnebago County Judge Eugene Doherty granted an injunction Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by medical providers who oppose abortion, saying they "raised a fair question as to whether their right to be free from government compelled speech is violated." (12/21)
Chicago Tribune: Pregnancy Centers Win Early Victory Against Illinois Abortion Info Law
The state of Illinois cannot, for now, force a group of clinics that refuse to perform abortions to direct patients to doctors who will do the procedure, a state judge has ruled. Winnebago County Circuit Judge Eugene Doherty issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday in favor of a handful of clinics in Chicago and elsewhere, temporarily barring the state from requiring them to follow a law that takes effect Jan. 1. It's the first court to weigh in on the law, signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner earlier this year, which requires physicians who don't want to perform abortions for moral reasons to help patients access abortion services elsewhere, if patients ask. (Schencker, 12/21)
Meanwhile, as Texas prepares to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood, here's a look at what to expect —
The Associated Press: Things To Know As Texas Tells Planned Parenthood Cuts Coming
Planned Parenthood is poised to end 2016 in a familiar place: in court, asking a judge to stop a Republican-controlled state from blocking Medicaid dollars. Here's how the nation's largest abortion provider got there and what's next. (Weber, 12/21)
