Michigan lacks comprehensive abortion data, which limits the ability of the state to monitor patient safety and the ability of policymakers to make informed healthcare policy decisions.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Michigan House Health Policy Committee will hear testimony on a three-bill package of legislation that would reinstate abortion reporting requirements. The bills would allow the state to confidentially collect the information while maintaining strict patient confidentiality standards.

To maintain patient privacy, the legislation specifically prohibits the collection of personal identifiers such as name, Social Security number, and address; it also mandates the destruction of documents after five years and criminalizes unauthorized disclosure of confidential abortion information as a felony.

Abortion reporting requirements, which had been in place since 1979, were eliminated in February 2024 when the state’s Reproductive Health Act went into effect. 46 other states and the District of Columbia currently have some form of mandated abortion reporting.

House Bill 5201, sponsored by Paquette, R-Niles, would amend the Public Health Code to once again require reporting of abortion data. Specifically, it would:

• Require medical providers to report abortion procedures to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services within seven days
• Collect 19 data points such as demographics, medical details, and circumstances
• Protect patient privacy by prohibiting the collection of identifying information
• Make unauthorized disclosure of information a felony offense
• Require the destruction of individual reports after five years
• Allow annual publication of aggregate statistical data

“We’ve worked to ensure this legislation protects patient privacy while giving health officials and policymakers the data they need to make informed decisions,” Paquette said. “My hope is that the information will lead to policies that help women choose life.”

H.B. 5202, sponsored by Wortz, R-Quincy, would establish additional reporting requirements specifically for abortion-related medical complications in order to better monitor patient safety.

“Abortion is not a risk-free procedure. It’s vital for our state to take a close look at the risks and potential complications involved, and my bill is an important step in that direction,” Wortz said.

H.B. 5203, sponsored by Smit, R-Shelbyville, amends the criminal code to make illegal disclosure of confidential abortion information a felony offense punishable by up to three years in prison.

“Accurate reporting ensures accountability in health care and transparency for the public. Michigan families deserve to know that our laws protect both women and unborn children through reliable data and responsible oversight. These reforms make sure compassion and truth – not politics – guide how information is collected and used,” Smit said.