More out-of-state patients seeking abortion care in Pennsylvania, providers say
During a panel discussion Tuesday in western Pennsylvania, U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio, D-17th District, addressed the current landscape of reproductive rights. He stated that “The majority in this country wants to see abortion rights protected, not banned,” and noted that “Just a few days ago, voters once again handily defeated an effort to further restrict abortion, this time in Ohio.” Deluzio was joined by reproductive health care providers in western Pennsylvania to discuss the current state of access to care and the challenges that clinics and professionals face.
The Impact of the Dobbs Decision on Patient Volume
Providers told lawmakers that since the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs V. Jackson Health Center ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, western Pennsylvania abortion providers have seen a “sharp increase in out-of-state patients seeking care.” Sydney Etheredge, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, explained the shift during the panel: “Pre-Dobbs, approximately 16% of our patients were from out-of-state, primarily from our directly surrounding neighbors.”
However, the geography of care has expanded significantly. “Now, in the post-Dobbs era, a quarter of our patients are traveling from 19 different states,” Etheredge said. “These states are well beyond our region’s borders and as far west as Texas and as far south as Florida.”
Current Abortion Care Statistics in Pennsylvania
The following table summarizes the changes and current constraints on abortion care access within the Commonwealth:
| Category | Data Point |
|---|---|
| Total abortion providers in Pennsylvania | 18 providers |
| Pennsylvania residents served | Nearly 13 million |
| Pennsylvania counties | 67 counties |
| Pre-Dobbs out-of-state patient percentage | Approximately 16% |
| Post-Dobbs out-of-state patient percentage | 25% (a quarter) |
Strained Resources and Clinical Challenges
With just 18 abortion providers serving Pennsylvania’s nearly 13 million residents across its 67 counties, Etheredge said the influx of out–of–state patients has strained the clinic’s staff and its resources. Dr. Amy Collins, medical director of Allegheny Reproductive Health Center, said Tuesday that the year since Dobbs has been “eye-opening” in terms of access to care.
Regarding the increased workload, Collins noted: “We doubled the number of appointments and worked for 12 to 13 hours a day just to be able to get folks in and to get them the care that they needed.” She further emphasized the change in wait times, stating, “we never had a patient waiting two weeks before, but we truly saw in that moment how important access is and what happens when access goes away.”
Legislative Barriers and Practical Access
While abortion is legal in Pennsylvania, Etheredge called lawmakers’ attention to “an overly legislative medical infrastructure” that she said works “against patient needs” by creating barriers such as a 24-hour waiting period and pre-procedure lab work. State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware) added that “while the access is legally there, practically speaking for so many Pennsylvanians, they don’t have access to abortion or reproductive health care in general.”
To illustrate the geographical difficulties, consider the following:
- “People need to understand that we went from having over 100 abortion clinics in Pennsylvania to less than 20 in a relatively short period of time.”
- “While the Pittsburgh area has three abortion providers, the next closest in-state provider is 200 miles to the east in Harrisburg.”
- “Only physicians — not other healthcare professionals — can perform abortions in the state.”
In response to these challenges, State Sens. Amanda Cappelletti and Judith Schwank recently proposed a package of bills to ensure protections for reproductive care, such as protecting patient information and prohibiting Pennsylvania courts from cooperating with out-of-state civil and criminal cases involving abortion.