Dear John,

Last week, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for in-person dispensing of mifepristone for medication abortion for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This decision is a step in the right direction, but is not enough. Many states have medically unnecessary laws in place that could allow them to limit access to this safe method of care to their communities. Also, this decision is only temporary for the pandemic. We know that medication abortion care via telehealth is safe and effective–these requirements should be lifted permanently.

For those who are able to now access medication abortion care via telehealth, barriers remain. Our Fellow Dr. Jaquelyn Yeh talked to Healthcare IT News [[link removed]] about the ruling and the hurdles that still exist when relying on telehealth.

Dr. Yeh, who practices in Washington, cited technological constraints—from type of device to internet access—as obstacles for many patients. Home environments and childcare duties can also impact a patient’s experience with telehealth.

But with COVID-19 cases rising, she says the ruling could benefit patients like hers in underserved areas who would have to travel hours and risk virus exposure to get abortion care in person.

As the pandemic changes the way we access health care, our physician advocates will continue to speak out about new developments and how they impact reproductive health care.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Blasdell
VP, Policy & Strategic Partnerships

Physicians for Reproductive Health
1430 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
United States

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