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Florida's six-week abortion ban, which will take effect next month, will severely limit access to abortion in one of the nation's most populous states and a key destination amid widespread restrictions in the state. The United States Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in Roe v. In the two years since Wade's repeal, providers nationwide have adapted to the fractured and rapidly changing abortion landscape, but the changes in Florida have been dramatic.
Last year, 1 in 3 abortions in the South — and 1 in 12 nationwide — occurred in Florida, according to data from the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health research and policy organization that supports abortion rights. In the year More than 9,000 people traveled from other states to get abortions in Florida in 2023, and that number will at least double by 2020, the data shows.
“It's horrible,” said Amber Gavin, vice president of advocacy and operations for an independent abortion clinic in Florida and North Carolina. She said she was heartbroken when she saw the ruling posted on the Florida Supreme Court's website Monday, paving the way for the six-week ban to take effect within 30 days.
“This is dangerous for our patients and honestly abortions in the Southeast.”
Many women do not know that they are pregnant Six weeks After their last period and in other states that have passed this early pregnancy restriction law, there has been a significant reduction in abortions. In Texas, the number of abortions provided in the regular health care system has decreased slightly. Half After Senate Bill 8 takes effect in 2021, and thousands more. Birthdays More than expected next year. In South Carolina, abortions dropped by 70% a month after the state passed the six-week limit.
It's hard to predict how abortion trends will change after the Florida law takes effect May 1, said Isaac Maddow Zimmet, a data scientist at the Guttmacher Institute. People planning abortions in Florida may try to get to Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina or Virginia, depending on their home situation and gestational age — but increasing travel distances mean many can't get anywhere. he said.
“In terms of the number of people affected, this is probably one of the most impactful policy changes in recent months — and that's not to discount other policy changes, which have caused significant harm and real barriers to entry,” he said. “It's all interconnected.” As barriers to access increase, and particularly in the Southeast, And as care options become increasingly limited, these barriers are exacerbated even more than we think.
Nine of the 16 states in the South banned abortion. Florida joins Georgia and South Carolina with a six-week ban. That leaves just three states in this US census region — Delaware, Maryland and Virginia — where abortion remains legal beyond the first trimester, while North Carolina has a 12-week limit.
In the year In 2023, there were about 7,000 abortions per month in Florida, Guttmacher data shows. And with significant access cuts set to begin next month, abortion support networks and providers in states where abortion is less restricted are anticipating an increase in demand.
“Unfortunately, unfortunately, we always have multiple contingency plans because of the landscape in which we provide care,” said Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider with clinics in multiple states. “We know this decision will come down soon, but we don't know when.”
For now, she said, Florida is focused on building capacity at established clinics in Virginia and Maryland to prepare for possible evacuations.
“It looks like adding days to our schedule, adding hours to our clock, making sure we have enough physicians and staff to handle the patient volume,” Hagstrom Miller said.
Existing clinics are not at capacity, and most appointments are available within two days, she said. But a new clinic on the southern border of Virginia is also in the spotlight.
“We're looking at those areas along the Virginia-North Carolina border and the Virginia-Tennessee border because we know people are coming from the south to those interstates,” Hagstrom Miller said. “For some people, it might be a couple of hours longer than our other sites.”
Illinois has become a key destination for abortion. In the year By 2023, nearly 37,000 abortions will be provided to out-of-state patients, Guttmacher data show — more than any other state.
For people traveling from the South for abortions, Chicago is often a cheaper option than some cities, and people from the South may be more likely to have family or a community network there, said Qudisiah Sharif, Chicago's deputy director. Abortion Fund, an organization that provides referrals and funds to people who have barriers to accessing abortion services.
The nonprofit has beefed up programs and capacity in direct anticipation of this Florida Supreme Court decision, and staff estimate they will need an additional $100,000 per month. To absorb the influx of Floridians and other Southerners seeking abortion support.
“From 2019, we didn't have to turn someone away. “We need more investment from the state, the federal government and our legislators to make flooding sustainable for Floridians and other Southerners,” Sharif said. “We are focused on meeting immediate needs, but we hope to use this opportunity to raise awareness and support.”
Florida's current 15-week abortion ban will move to a six-week limit in a month, but voters there will have a chance to vote on an amendment to the state constitution on the November ballot that limits abortion to “viability,” which is traditionally considered 23 weeks. .
Gavin said she hopes voters will support reproductive rights. But she saw the burden of the current pregnancy limitation on patients and clinic staff, and the new law will be implemented for six months before the election.
“We're seeing what's happening with our patients from 15 weeks ago. “It's gut-wrenching to turn patients away,” Gavin said. “This six-week ban leaves an even narrower window for people to get care, and I think it's too late for many. I am concerned about the thousands of people who access abortion care in Florida, especially the most marginalized communities.
Many abortion clinics, such as Woman's Choice, offer ultrasounds to help determine gestational age, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, as well as services that may or may not be offered, along with resources and referrals.
“We plan to stay open and continue to provide abortion care as long as we can,” she said. “One way the community can support us and the clinics in Florida is by continuing to receive their comprehensive care through clinics like ours. It can remain open.”