In a significant change for Wyoming’s healthcare landscape, the state’s only comprehensive abortion clinic has halted abortion procedures following the introduction of a new law. The law, sanctioned by Governor Mark Gordon, mandates that facilities offering abortions must be registered as surgical centers. Despite the halt, the clinic continues operations and remains available to assist patients telephonically while it battles this legislation in court, explained Julie Burkhart, President of Wellspring Health Access.
Burkhart underscored that the clinic’s decision does not equate to abandoning those in need, but rather ensuring they navigate this new legal challenge appropriately. The clinic located in Casper has temporarily ceased both surgical and medication abortion services as it seeks judicial intervention to suspend the enforcement of this law.
On Friday, Wellspring Health Access initiated legal proceedings against the new mandate in Natrona County District Court. Governor Gordon has refrained from commenting on this development, citing a policy against commenting on ongoing litigation. This legal challenge arises in a climate where numerous states are intensifying restrictions on abortion following the landmark Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Many of these new laws, including Wyoming’s latest requirement, are described by proponents of abortion rights as “targeted regulation of abortion provider” or TRAP laws. These are aimed at demanding abortion clinics conform to surgical center standards. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which advocates for abortion rights, 24 states, among them 16 without total abortion bans, have imposed similar stipulations.
In Wyoming, abortion continues to remain legal while another legal contest from Wellspring challenging state abortion prohibitions is pending before the state Supreme Court. Previously, a local judge ruled that Wyoming’s bans on surgical abortions and abortion pills breach the state’s constitution. This decision drew on a constitutional amendment affirming adults’ rights to make their healthcare choices – an amendment originating from concerns over the Affordable Care Act.
Governor Gordon’s office has appealed this ruling at the state Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the regulation governing surgical abortions necessitates clinics to qualify as outpatient surgical centers. Additionally, it stipulates that only licensed practitioners with admitting privileges to a nearby hospital, within 10 miles, could perform these procedures.
Despite being located just a short distance from a major hospital, Wellspring has argued that compliance with the new law would require costly clinic modifications. The clinic, which started its services in 2023, had already undertaken significant repairs after an arson incident. Efforts by Wyoming’s legislature to ban and rigorously regulate abortion continue, with six such legislative attempts this year.
Republican Representative Martha Lawley has voiced support for these regulations, expressing a commitment to women’s safety concerning abortion services. Nevertheless, Wellspring’s Executive Director Katie Knutter argues that such regulations, which the American Medical Association opposes, are disproportionately targeting abortion providers to increase costs and eliminate healthcare alternatives.
Governor Gordon had previously vetoed a comparable measure, expressing concerns over additional provisions complicating the state’s previous abortion litigations. Additionally, a proposed law requiring women seeking medication abortions to undergo ultrasound examinations awaits the Governor’s signature for further progress.
