Columbus, Ohio – State Sen. Bernie Moreno (R‑Ohio) wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday demanding that the Department of Justice intervene in a case he says illustrates the dangers of a 2023 federal rule allowing abortion medication to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to patients.
According to court records, Ohio physician Hassan Abbas was convicted earlier this month of identity fraud after using his estranged wife’s personal information to order mifepristone, a medication used to induce abortion, through a mail‑order pharmacy. Prosecutors allege Abbas then forced the crushed pills onto his girlfriend, a former patient, while holding her down. The woman escaped, sought emergency care, and suffered severe hemorrhaging.
Moreno, whose constituent was the victim, described the incident as a “hell‑on‑earth tragedy” and blamed the Biden administration’s 2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) change that removed the requirement for in‑person dispensing of mifepristone. He wrote, “Without ever setting foot inside a pharmacy, Mr. Abbas procured the mail‑order abortion drugs fraudulently using his estranged wife’s name. It is hard for me to imagine a wickedness more significant than this.”
Call for federal action
The senator’s letter urges Attorney General Blanche to act quickly to conclude the ongoing Louisiana v. FDA lawsuit, which challenges the same telehealth rule, and to reinstate the in‑person dispensing requirement while the FDA continues its safety review of the drugs.
Moreno also expressed outrage at the sentencing, noting that Abbas received only six months in jail and two years of probation. “How can someone commit a crime so vile and only receive six months of jail time?” he asked, requesting that the Justice Department consider federal charges.
Background on the policy
The 2023 REMS amendment, signed by the Biden administration, was intended to expand access to reproductive health care by allowing clinicians to prescribe mifepristone via telehealth and have it shipped directly to patients. Supporters argued the change reduced barriers for women in rural areas and during public health emergencies.
Critics, including Moreno and several state officials, contend the rule eliminates a crucial safeguard—direct, in‑person dispensing at a clinic, hospital, or pharmacy—making it easier for individuals to obtain the medication without proper verification. Louisiana is currently challenging the rule in federal court, claiming the FDA overstepped its authority.
Local implications
While the case involves a federal policy, the alleged abuse occurred in Ohio, raising concerns among local law‑enforcement and health‑care providers about verification processes for mail‑order prescriptions. Ohio’s Department of Health has not yet issued a formal response, but the incident underscores the tension between expanding telehealth services and protecting patients from fraud.
Moreno concluded his letter by emphasizing the need to protect “women and their unborn children” from what he described as “depravity” enabled by the current rule.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
