An Iowa Senate panel on Monday advanced SSB 3115, a measure that would prohibit abortion-inducing drugs from being dispensed through telehealth or mailed directly to patients. Instead, the bill requires that mifepristone and misoprostol be provided in person by a medical provider.

Supporters argue the proposal reestablishes safeguards that were rolled back at the federal level. In 2021, under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed the requirement that abortion pills be dispensed in person, allowing them to be distributed by mail. Since then, abortion providers and activist groups in pro-abortion states have shipped the drugs into states with stronger protections for unborn children.

Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates, said the legislation would help ensure women receive proper medical evaluation before taking the drugs. She noted that the current system allows the pills to be sent to homes without a physical examination. The bill would reinstate an in-person visit, including medical oversight intended to identify potential risks.

Medical professionals aligned with the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs have warned that eliminating in-person screening increases the risk of complications, including undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies and inaccurate gestational dating. They contend that without a direct examination, women may not receive critical information about potential dangers.

The measure also establishes civil liability for providers who violate the law, allowing damages to be sought by the woman, the father of the unborn child, or immediate family members. In addition, it requires physicians to inform patients about abortion pill reversal and directs hospitals to report medication abortion complications to the state.

The reporting requirement comes after the FDA in 2016 narrowed adverse-event reporting rules for mifepristone, no longer requiring prescribers to report serious complications other than deaths. Supporters of the Iowa bill say accurate data collection is necessary to evaluate safety outcomes.

Medication abortions now account for a majority of abortions nationwide. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 63 percent of abortions in the formal U.S. health care system in 2023 were drug-induced, a sharp increase from prior years. Pro-life advocates argue that the rapid expansion of mail-order distribution has outpaced safety oversight.

Iowa law currently restricts most abortions once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy. In-state dispensing of abortion drugs remains regulated, including ultrasound requirements prior to administration.

Backers of the bill describe it as a commonsense step to reinforce medical standards, protect women’s health, and uphold the state’s commitment to defending unborn life.