Maine Democrat Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill Monday that will allow health professionals who are not licensed doctors to perform abortions.
Starting in September, the law “will allow physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions,” both through an oral pill and surgically.
“Allowing qualified and licensed medical professionals to perform abortions will ensure that Maine women, especially those in rural areas, are able to access critical reproductive health care services when and where they need them from qualified providers they know and trust,” Mills said in a statement Monday. “By signing this bill into law, Maine is defending the rights of women and taking a step towards equalizing access to care as other states are seeking to undermine, rollback, or outright eliminate these services.”
Maine joins seven other states including New Hampshire, New York, and California in permitting the practice. While most states require a doctor to perform an abortion, 20 states allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide some amount of abortion care.
This comes as state legislatures across the country have passed restrictive bans on abortion that are poised to end in bitter Supreme Court battles.
