NYC Health + Hospitals and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) have developed an “on-demand” abortion program.
“Beginning this week, patients in New York City seeking abortion care will be able to schedule a Virtual ExpressCare appointment to speak with a New York state-licensed health care professional by video or phone, on-demand, for an assessment and counseling,” reads the city’s news release. “If clinically appropriate and prescribed, patients will be able to receive a medication abortion kit at their New York City address within a few days.”
Women in New York City seeking an abortion must confirm that they will be in the city when taking the abortion drugs.
“If a patient chooses to receive abortion medication by mail, the address must be in New York City,” the news release adds.
“NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare makes it easy and convenient to access care, and we are excited to expand the service to include abortion care,” said Erfan Karim, executive director of Virtual ExpressCare at NYC Health + Hospitals. “When you contact Virtual ExpressCare, you will be connected to a provider on-demand. We’re here to provide you confidential, immediate care.”
Lynn Schulman, a New York City Councilmember, described the program as “innovative.”
“Today’s announcement of an innovative telehealth abortion initiative is a welcome and vitally needed service, especially after last year’s Supreme Court reversal of reproductive choice. I want to thank Mayor Adams for his continued commitment to the health care of all New Yorkers,” Schulman said.
Numerous other New York officials expressed their support for the program.
Reporting from The Daily Signal:
Adams attributed the new abortion promotion to the city’s desire to fight back against the Supreme Court’s June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. “In New York City, we will never stop fighting for a woman’s right to choose the care that is right for them, and we will never stop working to make abortion care more accessible to all New Yorkers,” he said in a statement. “Telehealth abortion care allows the people in our lives to make the choices they need privately and safely, so that they can decide what is best for them and their futures. This is about protecting the ability for women to control their own bodies, their choices, and their freedoms.”
