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Kansas Publishes Final Abortion Rules

By Elana Gordon

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-991397.mp3

KANSAS CITY, Ks. – Kansas is making its finalized licensing rules for abortion providers public. The state approved them earlier this month. They take effect November 14.

Much about the rules will stay the same as temporary ones issued in June, but abortion providers are still likely to find them problematic.

Patient records still must be accessible for state health officials to review. Wait-times are still specified. But the rules ease strict room-size requirements and reduce the medications and equipment that providers must have on hand.

Miranda Steele is with the state's health department, which was charged with taking public comments over the last few months and drafting the new rules.

"The difference in the two sets of regulations shows that the public comment period that we had served its purpose, and that was to consider amendments to these regulations that would promote the safety of patients in Kansas," says Steele.

For the time being, a federal judge has blocked temporary rules, in response to legal challenges from abortion providers that would have had to shut down because of the rules. Theresa Woody, an attorney representing an Overland Park provider in the lawsuit, says although there are some changes with these new rules, they're still aimed at restricting abortion.

"If you look at these regulations and you compare them to other regulations for any other office space surgery procedures, they're still more stringent."

Woody's reviewing the new rules to see if it's possible for providers to meet them. If not, she says, expect further litigation.

The two providers in the lawsuit were granted an extension until the end of next month to brief the court on the potential impact of the permanent rules on their practices.

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