Telemedicine for Abortion

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, state-level restrictions were forcing abortion clinics to close, making it hard for large regions of the country to find in-person abortion care. Medication abortion by telemedicine, where a medical provider in one area has a health visit by video or phone with a patient in another area, could fill some of these “abortion deserts,” especially when combined delivering medication abortion pills by mail. Telemedicine also has the potential to decrease risk for patients and providers during disease pandemics, by cutting down on in-person visits.