Legislation introduced by Assemblymember Nguyen to train OB GYN physicians from restrictive states advances

Sponsored by Planned Parenthood

One of the many effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year to reverse the longstanding abortion protections under Roe v. Wade has been on the obstetric gynecological training of medical doctors specializing in the area. A bill sponsored by California Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D – Elk Grove) specifically would offer training to physicians in states that have restricted women’s health care.

Assembly Bill 1646 advanced out of Assembly Business and Professions Committee today by a 12- 3 vote. The bill will provide critical training for out-of-state medical residents to practice medicine and receive compensation for up to 90 days as part of their guest rotations in California.

Medical residents in states like Texas, which has one of the country’s largest ob-gyn residency programs, cannot be fully trained because Texas banned abortion in 2022. Tighter restrictions are also causing many ob-gyn physicians to leave states that have restricted their practice.

In Wyoming, the loss of ob-gyns because of the abortion restrictions also means there are fewer physicians to provide labor and delivery services. Even before the abortion ban, Wyoming had 11 ob-gyns per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 27 per 100,000.

“California is a beacon of hope and a safe haven for women’s reproductive health and access to safe abortions,” Nguyen said in a statement. “AB 1646 will ensure California is also a safe haven for out-of-state medical residents who are training in obstetrics and gynecology, especially for medical residents that are from states that have banned abortions.”

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California sponsored the bill, and according to the Assembly Bill Policy Committee analysis, there is no declared opposition. As of today, other committee hearings have not been scheduled.

Commenting on the legislation, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California vice president of government Molly Dobson said, “By improving California’s ability and capacity to create partnerships and host medical residents from abortion-banned states, we can ensure doctors who care for pregnant people continue to be trained fully in their licensure, despite hostile laws that would otherwise inhibit them from being trained in life-saving essential health care.”

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