Expanding Medication Abortion Access via Telehealth
PRH conducted a survey of its Leadership Training Academy (LTA) alumni to gain a better understanding of providers’ current provision of medication abortion care, their use of telehealth, what barriers exist (if any), and what resources are needed to ensure continued access to medication abortion care and the use of telehealth. Importantly, this survey was conducted prior to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removing some of the existing Risk, Evaluation, and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirements for mifepristone. However, other barriers remain. PRH believes the following information and recommendations collected from our LTA network is useful to partners and allies to support provision of medication abortion care and continue implementation and use of telehealth.
Read the high level findings below or our fact sheet covering the survey, methods, and findings here.
TOP LINES
Respondents that provide abortion care identified the following factors as positive influences on their ability to provide medication abortion care (top three):
- Supportive employer/institution
- Commitment to the work
- Protective state/federal laws
ul
- Unsupportive employer/institution
- Restrictive state law
- Hostile political/legal climate
ul
- Removal of restrictive laws and regulations
- Employer/institutional approval and policy change
- Removal of coverage/reimbursement restrictions
- Additional training/guidance on providing medication abortion in different practice settings
- Additional support staff
- Employment contract negotiation and legal support
ul
- Providing follow-up care via telehealth
- Providing a range of options for receiving care via telehealth (e.g., telehealth for consultation, follow-up, etc.)
- Removal of REMS requirements
ul
- Limited family, friends, doula, community supports in clinics for patients
- Delays in care/decreased availability
- Telehealth intake visits (inefficient in some clinics)
ul