Ohio Budget Changes Abortion Reporting, Reduces Maternal and Infant Health Funds
The Ohio General Assembly has passed a new state operating budget that enacts sweeping changes to abortion reporting requirements and reduces funding for maternal and infant health programs, while increasing financial support for anti-abortion initiatives.
The legislation, approved last week through a joint conference committee, is now awaiting Governor Mike DeWine’s signature, where he may issue line-item vetoes.
Among the most controversial aspects of the budget are the changes to how abortions are documented in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health will now be required to produce both annual and monthly abortion reports, which will be published through a new public electronic dashboard.
These reports must include detailed data such as the number of in-state versus out-of-state patients, the number of abortions a patient has received, and information broken down by age groups, now categorized as younger than 16, ages 16 to 17, and 18 to 24.
Significantly, the reports will also collect and publish data based on the ZIP code of the patient, a move reproductive rights advocates have condemned as a serious breach of patient privacy.
Critics argue the new reporting requirements add unnecessary administrative burdens on medical professionals, further stigmatizing a legal medical procedure. Jaime Miracle, deputy director of Abortion Forward, pointed out that no other medical procedure is subject to such extensive reporting.
Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, added that publishing ZIP code-level data could jeopardize the safety and confidentiality of patients seeking care.
The budget also restricts how funds can be used in reproductive health services. One provision prohibits the use of the Ohio Department of Health’s Genetic Services funds for abortion counseling or referrals, even in cases of medical emergencies, removing an exception that previously existed in the governor’s executive proposal.
Additionally, the budget includes $5 million over the biennium to fund 3D diagnostic ultrasound machines. However, these machines will only be available to organizations that do not provide or refer patients for abortion services.
This effectively funnels resources toward crisis pregnancy centers, typically faith-based facilities that discourage abortion, which are already supported through state programs like the Parenting and Pregnancy Program. Donors to these centers will now be eligible for up to $750 per year in personal income tax deductions, a measure estimated to cost the state around $900,000 annually.
While abortion-related initiatives saw increased funding and focus, support for maternal and infant health was reduced. The budget’s “infant vitality” line item was decreased from the Ohio House’s proposed $20 million to $18 million, only a modest increase from the current fiscal year’s $16.8 million.
Funding for community-based maternal health programs dropped to $5 million, down from $7.5 million in the governor’s original proposal and $6 million in the House version. A separate $1 million provision for non-medical services at residential infant care centers was removed altogether.
Other cuts included halving the proposed $10 million for pediatric cancer research down to $5 million, and slashing $1.6 million from funding intended for family crisis prevention and intervention projects.
Still, the final budget preserved some federal block grant funding, including $5 million per year for prenatal and infant care activities, $1.7 million annually for early childhood mental health programs, and $6 million each year to support tobacco cessation efforts targeted at communities with high infant mortality rates.
Reproductive health advocates have criticized the budget for prioritizing political ideology over public health. They argue that by diverting funding toward anti-abortion causes while reducing investments in maternal and infant care, the state is undermining efforts to address Ohio’s already troubling maternal and infant mortality rates.
Ultimately, advocates say this budget reflects a troubling shift in priorities, one that places politics above people and denies Ohio families the comprehensive support they need to thrive.
