Telehealth abortion still on the rise, especially in states with shield laws, report shows
Both the overall number of abortions and the use of telehealth abortion care continue to increase in the United States, according to the latest #WeCount report released Wednesday. Telehealth made up 20% of all abortion care in the first three months of 2024, and the monthly total of abortions exceeded 100,000 for the first time since the group began tracking abortion data in 2022. #WeCount is a collaborative group of researchers who collect national abortion data from clinics every month and is a project of the Society of Family Planning, a membership organization focused on abortion and contraception science.
The Impact of State Shield Laws on Access
The use of telehealth for abortion care has continued to grow in the U.S., particularly since five states passed laws legally shielding providers who work with patients living in states with bans. Dr. Alison Norris, co-chair of the group, said the data shows that five states — New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Vermont and Colorado — specifically shield those who provide telehealth abortions from legal ramifications if they work with patients from states with abortion restrictions. Furthermore, Maine will become the sixth state when its shield law takes effect.
Telehealth abortions provided by clinicians in states with shield laws averaged 9,200 per month from January to March 2024, according to the report. In the nine months from July 2023 to March 2024, over 65,000 people in states with near-total or six-week bans and states with telehealth restrictions have accessed medication abortion provided under shield laws.
Trends and Statistics in 2024
From January to March 2024, there were about 19,700 telehealth abortions per month, according to the report. The states with the biggest jumps in the average number of abortions per month compared with the first three months of 2023 include New York, California, Virginia, Kansas and Pennsylvania. For instance, Kansas saw 59% more telehealth abortions and 29% more in-person abortions each month.
The following table summarizes the growth and scale of abortion services in the first quarter of 2024:
| Metric | Data Points (Jan-March 2024) |
|---|---|
| Telehealth Proportion | 20% of all abortion care |
| Average Monthly Total Abortions | 98,990 |
| Monthly Telehealth Abortions | 19,700 (average) |
| Shield Law Telehealth Monthly Average | 9,200 |
| Peak Monthly Total (January) | 102,350 |
Contributing Factors to Increased Access
“There was already a move toward telehealth (during the COVID pandemic), but I think it was accelerated by the need,” Norris said. She noted that “there’s a lot more information in the ecosystem, there’s better resources on the internet, and there’s potentially been a destigmatization of abortion.” For those who faced financial issues obtaining an abortion, there is more awareness of abortion funds and other sources of support.
However, the vast majority of abortions still take place in person, Norris said, in part because medication abortion can only be prescribed via telehealth through 10 weeks’ gestation, and because some people just prefer to be seen in person. Fourteen states in the U.S. have a near-total ban on abortion, making these telehealth options critical.
Focus on Virginia: Medication Abortion via Mail
You can buy an abortion pill online and get it by mail in Virginia. The FDA has approved abortion pills by mail from U.S. based abortion providers for all 50 U.S. states including Virginia. Services like Aid Access help you order abortion pills and have them delivered to your home in VA in 1-5 days.
- Virginia abortion pill online orders costs: $150 USD
- Shipping: Reliable abortion pill shipping to Virginia in 1-5 days
- Tracking: Numbers provided when the pills are mailed
- Support: Help desk support available in 16 languages
To ensure eligibility, you will be asked some questions about your health and pregnancy during an online consultation. All information you share is private and protected. Once approved, the abortion pills will be shipped by mail to your home within 24 hours of your order.