New York’s Strengthened Shield Law Will Further Protect Doctors Prescribing Abortion Medication

With assistance from the Center for Reproductive Rights’ state team, New York State has strengthened its telehealth shield law to further protect doctors prescribing abortion medication. 

Under the new law, signed February 3 by Gov. Kathy Hochul, providers prescribing abortion medication can request that a dispensing pharmacy print their practice’s name on the prescription bottle label instead of their name. 

“Reproductive freedom will always be protected in the State of New York—and I’ll never back down from this fight,” Gov. Hochul said. “At a time when fundamental rights are under attack across the country, we are doubling down on our commitment to safeguard access to reproductive health care and defend those on the frontlines of this battle.”  

The law—which took effect immediately—makes it more difficult for hostile states to target New York doctors serving patients in states lacking access to abortion care. Gov. Hochul signed the new law just days after a New York doctor was indicted for prescribing and mailing abortion pills to a patient living in Louisiana. 

“As a leading advocate for telehealth shield protections, the Center urges other states to join New York in prioritizing the privacy and safety of abortion seekers and abortion providers,” said Lizzy Hinkley, the Center’s Senior State Legislative Counsel, State Policy and Advocacy, who advised on the bill’s language and was on hand for the signing ceremony.

Medication Abortion Has Become Crucial to Abortion Access 

Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, medication abortion through telemedicine has become a lifeline for thousands of pregnant patients living in states hostile to abortion. Medication abortion now accounts for 63% of all abortions in the U.S.  

The new law enhances New York’s 2023 telehealth shield law, which provided broad protections, including shielding New York providers from states that may attempt to impose criminal penalties on them as well as from actions by professional disciplinary bodies or medical malpractice insurers.

“Legal protections like those in NY S 36/NY A 2145 ensure telehealth providers continue to reach pregnant people in the 16 states currently enforcing abortion bans, empowering them to exercise their human rights to bodily autonomy and self-determination,” added Hinkley.