Dear Sir or Madam: 

I would like to reiterate my objection to the implementation of Targeted Regulations against Abortion Providers (TRAP).

All health care providers should be regulated, but regulations should be based on health care needs, not politics. TRAP have nothing to do with women's health and everything to do with limiting access to safe and legal abortion. This is politics at its worst and women's access to health care is the price we will pay if you move forward with these regulations.

- As currently written, the requirements to physically alter health centers for no medical reason are likely to increase financial barriers/hurdles for patients as well as reduce women's ability to find health care providers.

- The current regulations require extensive, medically unnecessary and inappropriate renovations to meet building standards designed only for new outpatient surgical hospitals, not existing health centers (including centers which offer IV sedation, an anesthesiological procedure much more medically risky than procedures commonly involved in abortion).

-Women in Virginia need better access to affordable, high quality healthcare, not politically-motivated barriers. Regulations that genuinely protect the health and safety of patients are critical, however politically motivated barriers to service put more women at risk.

As soon as is appropriate, these regulations should be reviewed and rescinded or significantly revised to speak solely to the medical necessity and not politics.

Sincerely,

Sheri B. Langham