New data estimates by the Guttmacher Institute reveal that approximately 171,300 patients travelled out of their state to receive abortions last year.
The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has resulted in severe restrictions on reproductive care across the nation.
In 2023, the first full year post-Roe, over one million clinical abortions were performed in states without a complete ban.
This marks the highest number of ‘medical tourists’ in well over a decade. The number of people travelling out of their state for abortions, whether for the procedure or to obtain abortion pills, more than doubled between 2020 and 2023.
States neighbouring those with stringent abortion limits, such as Illinois and Florida, witnessed a significant influx of patients at their clinics, serving as safe havens in the post-Roe era.
However, Florida has recently enacted one of the nation’s strictest abortion laws, dramatically shifting its role as a refuge for people seeking care in the American South.
According to the data, over 37,000 people travelled to Illinois for abortions last year. Illinois permits abortions up to roughly the 24-26th week of pregnancy, before fetal viability.
In states that continue to permit abortions, there has been an 11.5% increase in cases.
Analysis by the Center for American Progress found that women travelling the longest distances for abortions are more likely to be from lower-income and more diverse populations.
The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an abortion-related case post-Roe, effectively maintaining access to medication abortions, which account for 63% of abortions nationwide.
The FDA’s regulation change, removing the requirement for in-person pick-up, has led to a significant shift towards medication abortions, now accounting for 63% of abortions nationwide, either at clinics or via mail.
Since 2023, there have been 5,425 legislative actions regarding abortion rights, with fourteen US states imposing a full ban.
(information from in.gr)
