Telehealth Abortion Surge Continues in Shield Law States, Report Reveals

The latest #WeCount report has shown a notable rise in both the number of abortions and the use of telehealth abortion care in the United States. Released on Wednesday, the data highlights significant trends in reproductive health care.

Telehealth abortions constituted 20% of all abortion care in the first quarter of 2024. For the first time since #WeCount began collecting data in 2022, the monthly total of abortions has exceeded 100,000.

#WeCount, a project of the Society of Family Planning, gathers national abortion data from clinics monthly. Dr. Alison Norris, co-chair of the group, mentioned that their data covers around 80% of abortion clinics nationwide, with estimates accounting for reports from non-participating clinics.

Between January and March 2024, approximately 19,700 telehealth abortions were conducted each month. States such as New York, California, Virginia, Kansas, and Pennsylvania saw significant increases in abortion numbers compared to the same period in 2023. Kansas alone experienced a 59% rise in telehealth abortions and a 29% increase in in-person abortions.

The expansion of telehealth abortions is notable, especially in states with shield laws like New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Vermont, and Colorado. These laws protect telehealth abortion providers from legal consequences when working with patients from states with abortion restrictions. Maine is set to join these ranks with its shield law taking effect on Friday.

Data indicates that from January to March 2024, telehealth abortions in states with shield laws averaged 9,200 per month, up by approximately 1,200 from the previous quarter. Over the nine months from July 2023 to March 2024, more than 65,000 individuals in states with severe abortion restrictions accessed medication abortion via shield laws.

Despite the rise in telehealth abortions, the majority still occur in person, largely because medication abortion is only available via telehealth up to 10 weeks of gestation. Additionally, many individuals prefer in-person consultations.

The overall number of abortions has also increased, reaching a peak of 102,350 in January. The average monthly abortion count for the first quarter of 2024 was 98,990, surpassing the highest monthly total of 91,470 in the last quarter of 2023.

Norris noted that the national increase in abortions has been ongoing since 2017. While pinpointing a singular cause remains challenging, factors include legislative measures removing abortion barriers post-Dobbs decision and increased awareness of financial support options for abortions.

“There’s more information available, better online resources, and possibly less stigma surrounding abortion due to media and political discussions,” Norris said.

However, Norris acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by individuals in states with stringent abortion laws. “These restrictions lack a basis in public health science, and it’s an injustice that many are deprived of safe, time-sensitive health care due to their location,” she stated. She urged continued advocacy for unrestricted access to abortion services across the U.S.