For medical professionals

If ever there was an opportunity for clinicians to help guarantee the basic human right to abortion, this is it.

Recently, there has been a wave of advocacy and support for deregulating and demedicalizing access to abortion pills. Policy makers, clinicians, and advocates have all been eager to broaden access to abortion pills, a modern and effective technology that can be safely accessed and used outside of a clinic setting with no in-person visit required.

Evidence-based "no-test” protocols with no requirement for an in-person visit, ultrasound, or blood work, have been widely adopted as a safe and effective method for increasing abortion access and are endorsed by the National Abortion Federation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Reproductive Health Access Project, and others.

These big shifts have opened up new opportunities for clinicians to offer a safe, modern, convenient model of care: a supported, at-home abortion, with medications delivered to one’s door. Services can be offered with a synchronous or asynchronous model of care to further reduce the burdens of abortion seekers. Additionally, a number of states have passed, and are passing “shield laws” that protect clinicians who are licensed and living in that protected state and prescribing telehealth abortion pills into states with abortion bans and restrictions.

Regardless of whether you practice in a state that restricts access to abortion care or in a state that is implementing abortion protections, people who have self-managed an abortion or obtained one out of state deserve compassionate care. How you document patient records is important to reduce the risk of unjust criminalization. Learn more from If/When/How here and find more information on how healthcare providers can interrupt criminalization from Beyond Do No Harm here.

‍Read the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Advancing Equity in Obstetric and Gynecologic Health Care's statement on self-managed abortion here.

At this moment in history, we have a unique opportunity to address the structural inequities of our healthcare system and serve those in need of affordable, accessible abortion care using telehealth and abortion pills by mail.

Plan C collaborated with the University of Washington to develop a Provider Toolkit that offers a guide for initiating a modern medication abortion service within primary care practices. It provides information on setting up the service, patient-centered standards of care, and resources for understanding federal and state regulations on abortion services.

As a provider, you may see patients who need information on how to access abortion care, find resources like funding, legal, or emotional support, need pre- or post abortion care, or miscarriage treatment. Our duty as providers is to provide our patients with accurate information, respect, and support.

Below you will find resources that you can provide to your patients to assist them in getting the care they need.

You can help your patients understand that access to abortion pills by mail is available in all US states and territories through:

• US Licensed telehealth services ($0-$150)
• International telehealth providers ($95-$120)
• Online vendors ($70+)
• Community networks (free)

Learn more about these options on Plan C’s Guide and ineedana.com.

For more information about medical, legal, and emotional support resources for abortion seekers, visit our Support & resources page.