Telehealth Abortions Centered in Poor States With Few Options
Telemedicine has become a crucial access point for lower-income pregnant women seeking abortions, according to a study published Monday, as the anti-abortion movement ramps up efforts to restrict telehealth access through lawsuits and policy. The report, led by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, examined prescription data from the telehealth service Aid Access, which provides abortion drugs in all 50 states.
The Rising Role of Telehealth Care
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. 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. From January to March 2024, there were about 19,700 telehealth abortions per month, according to the report.
Regarding the specific growth in various regions:
- 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.
- Kansas saw 59% more telehealth abortions and 29% more in-person abortions each month.
- Telehealth abortions provided by clinicians in states with shield laws averaged 9,200 per month from January to March 2024.
Impact of Shield Laws and State Restrictions
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, the researchers found telehealth abortions were more than two times higher in states that put restrictions in place. Norris said the use of telehealth has continued to grow, particularly now 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.
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. Although many people who live in states with near-total bans or six-week bans are able to access abortion via telehealth, she said it’s still an unfair situation.
Addressing Inequality and Access
The findings show telehealth can address inequality over access and reach people in vulnerable situations, even in states that allow abortions. But money and distance also played a critical role in use of the mail-order medicines. For those who faced financial issues obtaining an abortion, there is more awareness of abortion funds and other sources of support.
Statistical Overview of Abortion Trends (Early 2024):
| Metric | Data Point |
|---|---|
| Total monthly abortions (January 2024) | 102,350 |
| Average monthly abortions (Jan-Mar 2024) | 98,990 |
| Average monthly telehealth abortions (Jan-Mar 2024) | 19,700 |
| Telehealth share of all abortion care | 20% |
Norris said the data captures about 80% of abortion clinics nationwide. Using that data, the group makes estimates to account for clinics that do not provide reports. 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, given how much it’s in the media and being talked about by politicians.