New York is doubling down on its commitment to reproductive rights as Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Saturday to further safeguard abortion providers from legal threats beyond state lines.
The new law, co-sponsored by Bronx Assembly Member Karines Reyes, enhances New York’s existing shield law by allowing medical providers to list only the dispensing health care practice’s address on prescription labels instead of their own name.
It also mandates that pharmacies comply with a prescriber’s request to remove their name from prescriptions, adding a crucial layer of privacy protection.
This move follows an earlier law signed by Hochul in January, which came in response to Louisiana officials attempting to extradite a New York-based doctor for prescribing FDA-approved abortion medication via telehealth. The new legislation, S.4587/A.5285, reinforces the state’s firm stance against outside interference in reproductive care.
“New York State is standing up to anti-choice zealots who threaten the sanctity of women’s health care and the medical professionals who provide it,” Hochul declared. “My message to anyone who attacks our civil liberties is simple — not here, not now, not ever.”
The strengthened shield law aims to protect both patients and medical professionals, particularly those working in smaller practices, from potential harassment or legal action.
Reyes emphasized the importance of these protections, stating, “We must ensure that New York’s medical professionals, especially in smaller practices, are able to remove personal addresses from the prescription bottles that are given to women seeking reproductive and abortion care.”
