Telehealth Medication Abortions Surge Amidst State Restrictions

A national survey conducted by #WeCount found that monthly abortion rates in the first quarter of 2024 have surpassed those seen before the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case, which overturned the national right to abortion. The increase is largely attributed to the growing availability of telehealth medication abortions, which allow individuals to receive care remotely, often at a lower cost and with greater convenience. The report highlights that more than 59,000 people utilized telehealth for abortion care in early 2024, with telehealth abortions accounting for nearly 20% of all abortions in the U.S.

The rise in telehealth abortions has been particularly notable since mid-2023, following the implementation of state shield laws that protect providers offering abortion services across state lines, where abortion remains legal. These laws have facilitated a substantial increase in telehealth abortions, especially in states with stringent abortion bans or restrictions. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, out-of-state clinicians provided over 9,000 telehealth abortions monthly under these protections, underscoring the growing reliance on virtual care in restrictive states.

Moreover, brick-and-mortar clinics have increasingly incorporated telehealth into their services, with telehealth medication abortions provided by these facilities rising by 33% from late 2023 to early 2024. The report also estimates that, had statewide abortion bans not been enacted post-Dobbs, an additional 208,040 abortions would have occurred in 14 states with near-total bans, highlighting the impact of legal restrictions on access to in-person abortion care.

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