Madison Reporter

State Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) has introduced legislation that would keep abortions right intact in Wisconsin even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

“Today, Rep. Hong, @StateSenLaTonya and @SenKeldaRoys released the RESPECT Act, a pair of bills that ensure patients have access to comprehensive reproductive health services and receive medically accurate information from health care providers," Hong tweeted. "The legislative package to repeal restrictive laws that infringe on an individual’s right to a safe and legal abortion, comes as the future of Roe V. Wade grows uncertain. Here in Wisconsin, we must say loud and clear that we stand by reproductive justice for all.” 

According to the nonprofit Guttmacher Institute, a patient seeking an abortion in Wisconsin must first receive "state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage the patient from having an abortion, and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided."

The counseling has to be in person.

"Health plans offered in the state’s health exchange under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised physical health, or in cases of rape or incest," the institute said.

Patients must also have an ultrasound before the abortion and "the provider must show and describe the image to the patient," Guttmacher said.

In 2019, Wisconsin women received 6,372 abortions in Wisconsin, a 5% increase from 2018, the state said. 

"The estimated 2019 Wisconsin resident induced abortion rate was 5.9 per 1,000 women ages 15-44, compared to 5.6 in 2018," the state said. 

The national rate in 2016 was 11.6 per 1,000 women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state said.