DOVER — Delawareans’ access to safe and legal medication abortions could be changing, as recently filed legislation would allow physician assistants and advanced-practice registered nurses to prescribe it.

House Bill 320, sponsored by Rep. Debra Heffernan, D-Bellefonte; Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Talleyville; and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, would permit physician assistants and advanced-practice registered nurses to prescribe Mifeprex, mifepristone and misoprostol, which block progesterone and can end pregnancies that are less than 10 weeks.

This initiative comes as legislatures across the country have been debating restricted abortion access and the Supreme Court’s potential nullification of Roe v. Wade, HB 320 sponsors said in a press release.

They added that medical abortions are the most common and safest method of terminating pregnancy, as less than 0.31% of patients have reported major complications with the drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Mifeprex in 2000, followed by authorization of its generic version, mifepristone, in 2019.

A regimen passed by FDA in 2016 prompted users to follow up those dosages with misoprostol to prevent side effects.

For organizations like Planned Parenthood, these legislative developments can increase the availability of safe and legal abortions, while simplifying the process.

“Planned Parenthood of Delaware Advocacy Fund is grateful to lawmakers for their support and their foresight,” said the agency’s public affairs manager Matthew Bittle. “Planned Parenthood of Delaware will continue to provide services for all who need them, while our advocacy arm will keep promoting policies that secure and expand access to reproductive health care.”

Mr. Bittle reiterated the support that PPDE has for HB 320, while also stressing the importance of accessibility to secure and legal abortions. He said that should Roe v. Wade be overturned, 26 other states that have had previous bans on abortions are poised to prohibit them once again.

“Planned Parenthood of Delaware is honored to stand with Rep. Heffernan and other champions of reproductive rights during unprecedented attacks on this type of care,” said its president and CEO Ruth Lytle-Barnaby in a press release.

“Medication abortions are highly safe and very common, and the procedure falls into the scope of practice for physician assistants and advanced practice nurses.”

Current Delaware Code allows only qualified physicians to prescribe abortion medication, and though physician assistants and advanced nurses have the proper training and authority to prescribe most drugs, law prevents them from prescribing medicine for abortions.

Delaware is one of 33 states that allows these medications to be prescribed by qualified doctors. Should HB 320 pass, it would become one of 19 states that permits physician assistants or advanced registered nurses to provide them.

This method of abortion is a safe alternative to others, and given the time period in which the medication must be administered, there is little risk, according to PPDE. Mr. Bittle said that, given the state of reproductive rights in America, this bill could signal the importance of those rights to Delaware’s lawmakers.

“Nationwide, we need more providers, and patients everywhere need more options for care in their community,” Mr. Bittle said.

“There is no medical reason for abortion provisions to be limited to doctors only, as studies show abortion is still extremely safe when provided by other trained medical professionals. By allowing clinicians like physician assistants and advanced-practice nurses to provide abortion care, Delaware would be committing to expanding reproductive rights.”

He added that allowing these practitioners to provide medication for abortions would make it easier for a patient to be seen at a place and time that fits her schedule.

PPDE has clinics in all three counties, including one in Seaford that opened in December. Mr. Bittle noted that, even though there are no immediate plans to open more facilities, that could change down the line.

“It’s possible that this legislation, coupled with a greater need, due to many states restricting access to abortion care, could encourage other entities to expand their services or open up new clinics, but only time will tell,” he said.

Sponsors of the bill were not available for comment beyond the House of Representatives press release, as of Monday afternoon. HB 320 is scheduled to be discussed Wednesday in a House Health & Human Development Committee meeting.