"Because someone answered, I get to be her mom."

"When I found out I was pregnant, I was overwhelmed and afraid. My fiance and I had three children, and were struggling financially. For the first time in my life, I considered abortion. I told myself it was the responsible choice because I feared providing for our children, and I scheduled an appointment.

I left that appointment with the medication and every intention of going through with it. For more than a week, I held onto it. As the days passed, I felt like I was running out of time... so I took the first abortion pill.

Then everything changed.

The reality of what I was doing hit me all at once, and I experienced immediate regret. I was terrified, heartbroken, and desperately searching for answers—any hope at all that I could save my baby. I found myself on my bathroom floor in the middle of the night, calling every hotline I could find.

I wasn't looking for someone to make a decision for me. I was looking for someone to tell me if I still had a choice.

When I contacted the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, Evie answered. Even in the middle of the night, I was treated with kindness, compassion, and respect. She listened to my fears, explained my options, and connected me with medical care immediately. I wasn’t pressured or judged. She simply helped me through one of the most difficult moments of my life.

Today, because of that help available, I have my sweet daughter Josie.

She is joyful, stubborn, funny, loving, and deeply cherished. She is my little shadow, my mini-me, and one of the greatest blessings of my life.

When I look at Josie, I don't see a difficult season in my life. I see a beautiful little girl who is deeply loved and whose life has touched our family in ways I never could have imagined.

She is not just part of our story. She is one of the best parts of it."

Open letter highlights the voices of women who sought abortion pill reversal and now oppose efforts to restrict information about the protocol.

June 24, 2026

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than 200 women who personally sought help through the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN) have signed an open letter expressing their gratitude for the care, information, and hope they received after choosing to try and reverse an abortion they did not want to finish. More than 40 of those women are Californians, from the very state where Attorney General Rob Bonta is seeking to silence Heartbeat International, the organization that manages APRN, and punish its speech about abortion pill reversal in the case The People of the State of California v. Heartbeat International & RealOptions.

“These precious women and their babies are not political talking points,” Danielle White, General Counsel for Heartbeat, said. “They are the women whose voices and hopeful, life-altering stories have been largely absent from the public conversation. It’s appalling that California’s lawyers seek to paint hope as harm, to silence their stories and dismiss as mere delusion their tangible gift of motherhood after APR. It is also revealing that California cannot produce a single woman who claims to have been harmed by information about the APR protocol, even as multiple happy mothers prepare to take the stand to testify to how APR helped them to reverse their in-progress abortions.” 

Signers voluntarily contacted the APRN after taking mifepristone because they wanted to know if there was any possibility of continuing their pregnancies. They indicate in the letter that they were “free to accept or decline that care.” They reached out to the APRN because they wanted information during one of the most time-sensitive and emotional moments of their lives. And APRN provided them free, compassionate help.

The open letter reads, in part: “Hope is not harm. Information is not misconduct. Compassion is not deception.” The letter notes that “women deserve to know all of their options” and signers support “the continued availability of Abortion Pill Rescue Network services for women who may one day find themselves in the same position.” The letter also indicates that many of the women who signed the letter welcomed children they cherish today, while others may not have experienced the outcome they hoped for. 

“Heartbeat is honored to stand alongside these courageous women as they share their experiences publicly,” Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications and marketing, said. “Each signature, story, and baby picture we receive reminds us that patients deserve truthful information, compassionate care, and the freedom to make informed medical decisions without government censorship.”

The complete open letter, signed by more than 200 women, is available on the APRN website.

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Heartbeat International is the largest worldwide network of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations, offering support, training, and resources to empower women and families to choose life. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network is one of Heartbeat’s key initiatives, providing a 24/7 helpline and access to a network of medical professionals to help women seeking to reverse chemical abortions.

Website | HeartbeatInternational.org 
Facebook | /HeartbeatInternational
Twitter | @HeartbeatIntl

Heartbeat partners with AUL to equip pregnancy help leaders for advocacy

Heartbeat International partnered with Americans United for Life (AUL) and other pro-life organizations for the inaugural "Telling Our Story: The Keys to Unlocking Pregnancy Center Advocacy" training, held June 3-4 in Washington, D.C. While Heartbeat's annual Babies Go to Congress initiative brings a small number of pregnancy help organizations, mothers, and babies to Washington to share firsthand stories with policymakers, this event equipped nearly 90 pregnancy help leaders from across the country gathered for practical training on communicating their mission, engaging elected officials, and advocating effectively at the local, state, and federal levels. 

Heartbeat's Director of Government Relations, Jessica Prol Smith, joined AUL leaders to provide instruction on the legislative process, while Vice President of Communications & Marketing Andrea Trudden moderated a panel on effectively telling the story of pregnancy help. Heartbeat President Jor-El Godsey also participated throughout the event and joined pregnancy help leaders in meetings with Members of Congress and Congressional staff on Capitol Hill. Pregnancy Help News Editor Lisa Bourne documented the event. 

The training comes at a time when pregnancy help organizations continue to face misinformation, political attacks, and legislative challenges. Through partnerships like this, Heartbeat remains committed to equipping affiliates with the tools and confidence needed to advocate for life-affirming care and ensure policymakers understand the vital role pregnancy help organizations play in serving women and families.

Heartbeat briefs Hill staff: Moms.gov leads thousands to hope and help

On June 11, 2026, Heartbeat briefed Congressional staff on the immediate impact of Moms.gov, a website designed to provide information, support, and practical help for new and expectant mothers, with its very first link pointing to Option Line.

Option Line saw a significant and immediate increase in traffic across the platform, with a clear spike beginning the day Moms.gov launched. The government website referral has already resulted in more than 26,000 visits to the Option Line center locator, a total site view increase of 319%, meaning more connections to pregnancy help. Our Director of Government Relations, Jessica Prol Smith, then invited Hill staff to use the website's ZIP code search function to find pregnancy centers in their local district.

Heartbeat submits testimony to U.S. House Judiciary Committee

On June 9, 2026, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee held a hearing assessing the role that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has played in distorting civil rights policy and manufacturing division. Witnesses and Members argued that the SPLC may once have been a more honest advocate for the vulnerable but has clearly lost its way.

Heartbeat submitted public written testimony expressing how the SPLC's defamatory and biased treatment of the pregnancy help community creates the implicit justification for violent attacks, smear campaigns, corporate discrimination, and legal harassment. Others addressed how the SPLC has weaponized its advocacy to deplatform conservative and Christian organizations, failed to address the pro-abortion terrorism led by Jane's Revenge, and irresponsibly sidelined pro-life advocates. Heartbeat's testimony noted that affiliates will continue to offer resources and support — even in the face of political hostility — but also argued that the country will be a better place if the organizations fomenting such hostility are held accountable.

The first trial of its kind puts women's right to information and a nonprofit's First Amendment protections on the line

June 22, 2026

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – On June 24, Heartbeat International will stand trial in California Superior Court in what is to be the first lawsuit over Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) to reach trial in the United States.

In People v. Heartbeat International, et al., the California Attorney General is seeking nearly $20 million in penalties against Heartbeat International over its promotion of APR through its Abortion Pill Rescue Network (APRN). This case will decide if state attorneys general have the right to issue ruinous fines against a charity whose viewpoints those AGs disfavor. Heartbeat has asked the court to find that the First Amendment protects their speech and women’s rights to access information about all available options following a chemical abortion.

“California claims to fight for women's choices. But seeking the 'death penalty' in fines to silence the charity she calls when she changes her mind is not freedom — it's control,” said Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International. “No mom should be denied the chance to save her own baby's life. Heartbeat will always fight for a mother’s right to know and her right to choose life.”

California conceded that it has received no complaints from California women regarding APR. Instead, the trial will include testimony from mothers who sought help through Heartbeat's network and are today raising healthy children after choosing to reverse their abortion — firsthand accounts of the access to information this case puts at risk.

"This is the first case of its kind to reach trial, and the implications extend far beyond Heartbeat International,” said Danielle White, Esq., general counsel for Heartbeat International. “A ruling in California's favor would hand attorneys general across the country a roadmap to penalize any non-profit organization that provides women with information the state disagrees with."

APR has been offered to women since 2012, using progesterone — an FDA-approved hormone safely prescribed during pregnancy since the 1950s — to counter the effects of mifepristone if administered within 72 hours. Statistics show more than 8,000 lives have been saved following the protocol.

Heartbeat International maintains that the state's case represents an unprecedented use of consumer protection law to restrict the free flow of medical information, with consequences that would reach well beyond California.

Heartbeat International remains committed to ensuring no mother faces that decision alone. Through its Abortion Pill Rescue Network, Heartbeat operates a 24/7 helpline connecting women with a nationwide network of medical professionals trained to provide APR treatment because no woman should be forced to complete an abortion she no longer wants.

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Heartbeat International is the largest worldwide network of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations, offering support, training, and resources to empower women and families to choose life. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network is one of Heartbeat’s key initiatives, providing a 24/7 helpline and access to a network of medical professionals to help women seeking to reverse chemical abortions.

Website | HeartbeatInternational.org
Facebook | /HeartbeatInternational
X | @HeartbeatIntl

New public resource seeks to track growing reports of coercion, deception, and abortion drug misuse across the United States

May 29, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heartbeat International launched a new national tracker documenting reported abortion pill poisonings and forced abortions across the United States. The tracker, hosted by Pregnancy Help News, provides a centralized resource for journalists, policymakers, pregnancy help organizations, and members of the public seeking to better understand the growing number of reported incidents involving abortion drugs being used without a woman's knowledge or consent.

The tracker compiles publicly reported cases from across the country and organizes them by state. Heartbeat International plans to update the resource as additional incidents become known.

The project was developed in response to an increasing number of calls received through Heartbeat International's Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN), which provides care to women who regret beginning a chemical abortion and seek information about continuing their pregnancies. In recent years, APRN staff have also observed a troubling increase in calls involving reproductive coercion, pressure to abort, and allegations that abortion drugs were administered without a woman's knowledge.

"We are hearing from more women who feel pressured into abortions they do not want, many coerced or forced abortions, and we are increasingly hearing from women who believe they are being poisoned with abortion drugs," said Christa Brown, Senior Director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International who oversees the Abortion Pill Rescue Network. "Many of these women are frightened, confused, and unsure where to turn. They often are afraid that no one will believe them."

According to Brown, the concerns extend beyond individual cases and point to a broader pattern emerging alongside the widespread availability of abortion drugs through mail-order distribution and online providers.

"Every woman deserves to make decisions about her pregnancy free from coercion, threats, manipulation, violence, or deception," Brown said. "When abortion drugs become increasingly accessible outside traditional medical settings, opportunities for misuse also increase. The stories we hear every week remind us that these drugs can be used not only for abortion but, in some cases, as tools of control and abuse."

While Heartbeat International has maintained internal records of reported incidents for years, organizational leaders determined that a public-facing resource was needed to help identify trends and provide greater visibility into a growing concern.

"Publicly reported cases likely represent only a fraction of what is actually occurring," said Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Heartbeat International. "Many women never report what happened to them, particularly when the person responsible is someone they know and trust. By creating this tracker, we hope to provide a factual resource that helps illuminate patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed."

Heartbeat International hopes the tracker will serve as a reference point for media coverage, policy discussions, research, and public awareness efforts related to abortion pill distribution and safety.

The tracker is available now through Heartbeat's news website, Pregnancy Help News, and will continue to be updated as new reports emerge.

About Heartbeat International
Heartbeat International is the world's largest network of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations, supporting more than 4,000 affiliated locations in more than 100 countries. Through programs including Option Line® and the Abortion Pill Rescue Network®, Heartbeat International connects women facing unexpected pregnancies with compassionate support, medical referrals, and life-affirming care.

On Mother's Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a brand-new website for mothers and women preparing for motherhood: Moms.gov.

This national resource is designed to provide information, support, and practical help for new and expectant mothers as they prepare for this important season of life. What made this especially meaningful for us was discovering that the very first link featured on the site directs women to Option Line.

Here are some clips from the Moms.gov roundtable discussion featuring many key players at HHS and the pro-life movement, in addition to Jor-El Godsey, Tonya Baker-Nelson from Hand of Hope Pregnancy Center, and client Samantha Spivey:

View the full event recording below

May 11, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heartbeat International welcomes the launch of Moms.gov by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a new national resource designed to provide information, support, and practical help for new and expectant mothers.

Among the most notable features of the new site is that the very first resource link directs women to Option Line, Heartbeat International’s 24/7 contact center connecting women to life-affirming pregnancy help and local support services.

The inclusion of Option Line on the site reflects more than two decades of trusted service through Option Line, which has been helping women since taking its first call in 2003. Since then, the contact center has served as a compassionate, immediate connection point for women seeking pregnancy support, offering accurate information, pregnancy resources, and referrals to local care through a nationwide network of pregnancy help organizations.

“Motherhood is how we all got here. Every woman should be loved and supported in her pregnancy,” said Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International. “That’s why we’re grateful for the trust to serve to connect moms to the kind of choices everyone can live with.”

Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications and marketing for Heartbeat International, said the inclusion of Option Line reflects years of consistent service rather than political advocacy.

“Option Line is a natural fit for Moms.gov because it represents more than two decades of trusted, compassionate service to women and families,” said Andrea Trudden. “Since taking its first call in 2003, Option Line has provided 24/7 support, connecting women to real help, accurate information, practical resources, and local care. When HHS looked for a trusted national resource for mothers, Option Line was already doing that work every day.”

In addition to connecting women to Option Line, Moms.gov also links families to federally qualified health centers and other supportive resources, signaling a broader commitment to strengthening families and ensuring women have access to care and community support.

Heartbeat International sees this as a meaningful step toward elevating life-affirming resources and recognizing the vital role pregnancy help organizations play in serving women, children, and families across the nation.

About Heartbeat International

Heartbeat International is the largest network of pregnancy help organizations in the world, supporting nearly 4,000 affiliates in more than 100 countries. Heartbeat International advances life-affirming pregnancy help through training, support, advocacy, and services including Option Line and the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.

April 29, 2026

"This ruling makes clear that no attorney general, no matter how politically motivated, can weaponize the power of the state to punish those who protect life and serve women with compassion."
- Jor-El Godsey

COLUMBUS, OH - Heartbeat International welcomes today’s unanimous 9-0 ruling by the United States Supreme Court in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport, affirming that faith-based pregnancy help organizations do not have to surrender their constitutional rights before seeking protection in federal court.

The Court ruled that First Choice could challenge the New Jersey Attorney General’s sweeping subpoena in federal court before being forced to comply. The subpoena demanded sensitive donor and personnel records despite no allegations of fraud or financial misconduct, targeting the organization because of its Christian, pro-life convictions. Heartbeat submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in support of First Choice, arguing that pregnancy resource centers would speak less freely if government surveillance loomed.

“Today’s 9-0 decision is a powerful and unanimous affirmation that constitutional freedoms do not disappear simply because someone holds pro-life or Christian convictions. Every single Justice of the United States Supreme Court stood on the side of First Choice Women’s Resource Centers and against government overreach that sought to intimidate and silence faith-based pregnancy help organizations. This ruling makes clear that no attorney general, no matter how politically motivated, can weaponize the power of the state to punish those who protect life and serve women with compassion. We celebrate this victory not only for First Choice, but for every pregnancy help organization, donor, and ministry across the nation that deserves the freedom to live out its mission without fear.” — Jor-El Godsey

“The Supreme Court’s unanimous 9-0 decision sends a clear legal message: the government cannot evade constitutional scrutiny by hiding behind investigatory subpoenas. The Court today rightly recognized that the harm begins the moment the government uses its power to chill speech, intimidate donors, and target ministries based on their beliefs. Faith-based pregnancy help organizations should not have to endure government overreach before they can defend their constitutional rights in federal court. This decision is a vital safeguard against abuse of power and a strong reminder that constitutional protections must be available when they are needed most.” — Danielle White

About Heartbeat International
Founded in 1971, Heartbeat International is the largest network of life-affirming pregnancy help organizations in the world, with nearly 4,000 affiliated locations spanning more than 100 countries. Through training, resources, and support, Heartbeat International empowers pregnancy help organizations to reach and rescue more women, and to renew communities for life.

As a matter of good practice, every Pregnancy Help Organization (PHO) should have a policy on confidentiality.

Federal Law

United States federal law has established national standards for protecting certain health information through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA grants patients certain rights, including the ability to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). See 45 CFR 160.306.

Certain entities are required to comply with HIPAA. Federal law outlines three categories of entities that the law applies to:

1. A health plan;
2. A health care clearing house; and
3. A health care provider who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a transaction as defined by this law.

HIPAA also applies to business associates. See 45 CFR 160.103.

A health plan is an individual or group that provides or pays the cost of medical care. Health plans include a group health plan, health insurance issuer, and/or a health maintenance organization (HMO). See 45 CFR 160.103.

A health care clearing house is a public or private entity, that either processes or facilitates the processing of nonstandard health information into standard, or vice versa. Examples of health care clearing houses include a repricing company, community health management information system or community health information system, and “value-added” networks and switches. See 45 CFR 160.103.

A health care provider is a provider or organization who provides medical or health services when they furnish, bill, or are paid for health care in the normal course of business. This includes both doctors and clinics. See 45 CFR 160.103.

However, health care providers are only considered to be covered entities when they transmit health information in connection with a transaction as defined by this law. While the term “transaction” has many meanings, under this law, a transaction is defined as the transmission of information between two parties to carry out financial or administrative activities related to healthcare. Examples include health care claim information, health care payments, coordination of benefits, enrollment in health plans, and premium payments. See 45 CFR 160.03.

A business associate is an organization who creates, receives, maintains, or transmits protected health information (PHI) for the purposes of a function or activity regulated by this law, including claims processing or administration, data analysis, processing or administration, utilization review, quality assurance, patient safety activities, billing, benefit management, practice management, and repricing on behalf of a covered entity. A business associate can also be an organization that provides legal, actuarial, accounting, consulting, data aggregation, management, administrative, accreditation, or financial services, which involves the disclosure PHI, to or for a covered entity. See 45 CFR § 160.103. 

A business associate does not mean a health care provider who discloses PHI concerning treatment of the individual.

State Law

Most states have a form of HIPAA enacted into law. Some adopt HIPAA entirely, and others take only a few components. It is important you check with a local attorney to determine what the laws in your state are, and how they apply to your center.

Grants and State Funding Agreements

Oftentimes, grants and agreements for state funding will have requirements that mimic HIPAA requirements. Before signing on the dotted line, it may be best to check with local counsel to review these agreements.

Practical Application

If you are not considered a covered entity, you are not required, by federal law, to comply with HIPAA. If you do not bill for services, you most likely are not considered a covered entity. This means that the rights given to patients under HIPAA may not extend to your clients. It is important to consider how you advertise yourself out to the public.

Confidentiality Policy

Every PHO should have standards for confidentiality: a policy for your employees, and a statement for your clients. Both should include your state law’s requirements. You may also include the requirements from grant or state funding agreements.

Your Employee Confidentiality Policy should indicate that confidential information is shared on a need-to-know basis only. The Confidentiality Policy should state that any location that stores personal health data is secure. For example, computers should have automatic lock screens and paper records should be stored in locked cabinets in a locked room, separate from the waiting room or consulting rooms.

Your Confidentiality Statement should apply and be given out to all clients, regardless of the services they receive. The Confidentiality Statement should outline the safeguards your PHO agrees to follow, and any exceptions to confidentiality that are required by your state’s laws or your center’s policies. It is recommended that the client acknowledge receipt of the Confidentiality Statement.

Not only do you need to have a policy on confidentiality, but you also need to follow that policy. External authorities will judge your organization based on how well you follow your own policies.