New abortion rules will be challenged in court, opponents warn

As the State of Montana considers changing rules to make getting an abortion using Medicaid more difficult and restrictive, a group of health care providers sent a letter via their attorneys warning the state and lawmakers that adopting the proposed rules will lead to a lawsuit.

The letter, sent on Monday to Paula Stannard, the chief legal counsel for the Department of Public Health and Human Services, says new rules that would require more paperwork by doctors, restrict which medical providers can perform abortions, and make the department pre-authorize any abortions for Medicaid...