Medication Abortions via Telehealth Increase 136% Since Supreme Court’s June 2022 Ruling

A new report from the Society of Family Planning has revealed that medication abortions provided by virtual-only providers have accounted for an increasing share of total abortions in the United States since the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022.

The data suggests that the rate of medication abortions via telehealth increased by 136% from April to December 2022, while total abortions decreased by 2%. This is in line with the Guttmacher Institute’s findings that medication abortions already accounted for more than half of all US abortions in 2020.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans recently ruled that the Food and Drug Administration’s initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 should remain in effect, overriding a district court ruling from less than a week before. This decision preserved but narrowed access to an abortion pill across the U.S.

In April, there were less than 4,000 medicated abortions provided virtually, and in December, there were more than 8,500. This is a significant increase, and it is likely that the rate of medication abortions will continue to rise as the Supreme Court’s ruling stands.

The Society of Family Planning’s report provides valuable insight into the current state of abortion in the United States, and it is clear that the Supreme Court’s decision has had a major impact on access to abortion services. It remains to be seen how the landscape will continue to shift in the coming months and years.