Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan’s Bill to Protect Abortion Data Passes the Legislature

Sacramento, CA – AB 352 authored by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has passed the California State Assembly concurrence and is headed to the governor’s desk. AB 352 is a precedent-setting measure to protect information about abortion from being automatically shared between states via health information exchanges.

“Patients seeking care in California should feel completely safe when they return home.” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) “Unfortunately, with information sharing through digital charts, abortions can be seen, reported, and criminalized once patients leave California. AB 352 prevents the automatic sharing of this sensitive medical information so that anyone coming to California for care is protected.”

When a patient comes to California for the abortion care protected in our state’s constitution, they are safe within California’s borders. However, when they return home, those protections become limited. Any providers will be able to see the abortion in the patient’s digital chart. Unfortunately, some providers will then report the patient to law enforcement for receiving the procedure that is criminalized in other states. AB 352 prevents this situation by preventing the automatic sharing, so a digital chart will not reveal an abortion procedure.

"Protecting the privacy of patients who access essential health care services is crucial, especially as we see these vital services continuously attacked and criminalized in other states,” said Molly Robson, Vice President of Government Affairs at Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “We are grateful for Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan’s leadership in preventing breaches of patient confidentiality when health records are shared across state lines."