Special Report: 'Telemed Abortions' Endanger Women and Drive Up Insurance Costs
by Staff
March 30, 2010
DES MOINES, Iowa, (christiansunite.com) -- Operation Rescue announces the release of a special report detailing a disturbing new trend in the abortion industry that could be endangering the lives and health of thousands of women, and is bilking insurance companies out of grossly inflated fees.Audio recordings collected during Operation Rescue's undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland's "telemed abortion" scheme reveal how the Iowa-based abortion group has taken the concept of telemedicine to a dangerous new level.
A telemed abortion is abortion via a teleconferencing service. Patients briefly visit with an off-site abortionist that appears on a computer monitor and explains the medical abortion procedure to them. Afterwards, the dangerous abortion drug RU486, also known as Mifepristone, is prescribed. The patient is never physically examined by the medical doctor and never sees the abortionist again.
"The telemed abortion presents risks to women's lives and health that are completely unacceptable," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "The lack of access to a licensed physician throughout this risky and painful abortion process is shocking, and likely illegal. Money obviously means more to Planned Parenthood than the lives and safety of women."
In addition, Operation Rescue reveals evidence that Planned Parenthood in Iowa charges insurance companies a whopping $1,000 for this doctor-less medical abortion - the highest in the nation by far - even though their overhead costs are much less than other clinics that have a licensed physician on site. Women who pay cash for the same procedure are charged $500, half the amount insurance companies must pay.
This overbilling effectively drives up the cost of health insurance for everyone.
"Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is making a killing on medical abortions," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Planned Parenthood is gouging insurance companies twice the price of their cash abortions. That's how they can afford to keep their smaller clinics running.
"And if taxpayers are forced to fund these abortions, there's no telling how much they will charge, because government funding is a blank check."
About Operation Rescue
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.
