INDIANA — With just two weeks until Indiana’s abortion ban goes into effect, the state’s largest healthcare system IU Health is already seeing an impact while preparing for what this will mean for their hospitals.
The new law which takes effect September 15 bans most abortions with exceptions for rape, incest, the health of the mother, or a fatal fetal anomaly.
Indiana University Health said it will be ready to continue providing abortions to patients, however, doctors will find themselves also navigating tricky legal areas as well.
“We know that this is new territory for many of our providers and that has increased certainly the anxiety around whether are they making the right decision,” said IU Health Chief Medical Executive David Ingram.
To help address the new law IU Health has created a 24/7 rapid response team to provide legal, ethical, and medical advice to doctors.
When dealing with rape or incest, IU Health will do the required reporting.
IU Health said it will refer patients to out-of-state providers where most abortions still remain legal.
The health system is also working to expand its capacity to take care of the increase in pregnancies they expect to see.
Earlier this week, Planned Parenthood and ACLU along with others filed a lawsuit to block Indiana’s near-total ban on abortion from taking effect.
If the law is put on hold, IU Health Hospital says it will continue to operate as it has been.
