Key Takeaways:
– As state abortion laws change, patients and clinics are constantly relocating to areas where the procedure is legal.
– The shifting of health resources mirrors the movement of patients seeking abortions in different states.
– Due to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, abortions have increased since 2020 in states without bans.
– Despite a decrease in abortions in states with bans, the estimated number of abortions in the US in 2023 was over 1 million, the highest in a decade.
– Nonprofit organizations aiding those seeking abortions have seen a surge in demand but a decrease in donations.
The Consequence of Changing Abortion Laws
In the United States, the landscape of abortion laws is ever-shifting. Since a series of state laws left a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia, Missouri, unequipped to offer abortions in 2018, its resources were transported to states where the procedure remained legal.
This pattern is repeated across the nation following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which devolved abortion policies to the states. Consequently, an assortment of laws has emerged, forcing patients seeking abortions to travel across the country to get the procedure.
The Domino Effect of Abortion Bans
The domino effect of individual state decisions has led to over 170,000 people traveling out of their states to receive abortion care in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a coalition supporting abortion rights.
Additionally, an 11% rise in clinic-provided abortions since 2020 has been observed in states without abortion bans. Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at Guttmacher, comments that although improving resources have boosted access in these states, obstacles such as cost remain.
The Dobbs decision and state-led abortion bans have had broad effects on Planned Parenthood clinics. For instance, a southern Illinois clinic saw a 10% increase in call volume in the fortnight after Florida’s six-week abortion ban was enacted. Other organizations, like the Midwest Access Coalition, that aid individuals seeking abortions have also experienced a surge in requests.
A Mixed Response to Increased Abortion Numbers
Despite the increasing demand for abortions, responses vary. Anti-abortion advocates celebrate the drop in procedures in states with near-total bans. Kelsey Pritchard, of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, views the over 200,000 abortion reduction since the Dobbs ruling as encouraging.
On the flip side, the National Network of Abortion Funds, a group providing financial aid to individuals seeking abortions, reported a 39% increase in aid requests after the Dobbs ruling. While the Dobbs decision initially spurred a rise in donations, there has been a “staggering drop off” since then.
The Future of Abortion Rights
The future of abortion rights in the US is in flux. Policy decisions on abortion will be decided by voters come November. Ballot initiatives in at least 10 states might secure abortion rights and expand access, even in states with comprehensive bans.
However, an overcapacity of patients requesting abortions challenges clinics in states where the procedure is legal. Emily Wales, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, notes that even as the organization expands its facilities, it will likely only be able to schedule just over half of those who inquire about an abortion. Herein lies the dual struggle of increasing access while meeting the surging demand for abortion care.
Until a more permanent solution is implemented, the game of musical chairs for abortion clinics and their patients continues across the United States. As the nation awaits the next round of policy decisions, these shifting laws continue to impact the rights and accessibility of abortions for women nationwide.