Originally published October 4, 2023 11:21 am PDT
New York City unveiled a virtual abortion-on-demand program on Monday, making it the first city in the U.S. to offer abortion pills without an in-person visit for individuals looking to terminate their pregnancies.
Mayor Eric Adams presented this initiative as a response to last year’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a move that did not affect the abortion laws in New York or other states with existing protections for the procedure.
Mayor Adams stated, “Here in New York City, we will not allow the far right to continue its crusade to strip women of their reproductive rights,” elaborating that New Yorkers can now access “abortion care” from their homes through telehealth consultations under the city’s “Virtual Express Care” program.
This program, available seven days a week from 9am to 9pm, facilitates virtual consultations for women up to 10 weeks pregnant seeking medical abortions.
Following the online appointment, if the treatment is deemed “clinically appropriate and prescribed,” the necessary pills will be shipped to the patient’s address “within a few days,” according to the press release from City Hall on Monday.
The service aims to be free or low-cost for most patients, with financial counselors available to assist uninsured individuals in finding financial help through city programs.
Earlier this year, Mayor Adams signed an exclusive contract with pharmaceutical company Nixon-Shane LLC to acquire a significant amount of mifepristone, a medication used in conjunction with misoprostol for medical abortions, aiming to “mitigate the threat to public health” brought about by the Supreme Court’s decision, an RT report notes.
Before this initiative, the city had established an “Abortion Access Hub” hotline to guide callers to affordable abortion providers within the city’s boundaries, offering financial support for transportation and lodging if required.
The move sparked discussions around the potential for “abortion tourism” from states where the procedure is restricted or banned.
New York has robust abortion-rights laws, with legislation passed in 2019 ensuring the right to terminate pregnancies even beyond the highly debated 24-week mark, under specific health conditions.
The law also permits medical professionals other than physicians to conduct the procedure and removes it from the criminal code.
In 2020, New York recorded higher abortion rates compared to the national average, particularly among women aged 15 to 44, as reported by the pro-choice advocacy group, the Guttmacher Institute.
With the increased availability of abortion pills, the city has seen a notable shift in preference from surgical to medication-induced abortions, as per city statistics.
