Medical abortion faces new attacks on a federal level, but in New York State, patients still have multiple safe options for receiving the treatment, including via telehealth video calls.
Last week, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a bill to revoke FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Although most research has put the rate of serious adverse effects at about 0.5% of cases, Hawley cited a controversial report claiming complications are more common. Anti-abortion advocates and some officials have increasingly targeted the medication since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
As in most of the country, access to abortion services has shrunk along with the closure of many reproductive health clinics, as Epicenter NYC has reported. But in New York, where doctors are allowed to prescribe abortion medications via telehealth visits, patients still have multiple safe, private options. Here’s how to access them.
Know your abortion rights
Since the Supreme Court allowed states to ban abortion in 2022, patients in states with abortion bans have been getting medication from New York providers without crossing state lines. New York’s telehealth “shield law” lets clinicians prescribe and mail abortion pills while protecting them from legal action that might be brought in states with abortion bans or tighter limits.
Under New York law, people can get an abortion for any reason up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, or later if their health or the pregnancy is at risk. This includes anyone who can become pregnant, including transgender men and nonbinary people.
These services are available regardless of gender identity, immigration status or health insurance. Minors can receive care without parental permission. Patients also have the right to receive care in their preferred language through interpreter services.
What is telemedicine abortion?
Telemedicine abortion lets patients meet with a clinician online or by phone instead of visiting a clinic. If the patient is judged to be eligible for a non-surgical abortion, the provider prescribes two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. These medications are typically used in the first trimester and have a strong record of ending early pregnancies safely.
Hawley’s proposed bill has raised concerns among abortion advocates because it targets mifepristone. In first trimester medical abortions, most major medical guidelines recommend taking mifepristone first, followed by misoprostol 24 to 48 hours later. Clinical studies show this combination is about 95% to 98% effective in early pregnancy.
Misoprostol alone can also safely end a pregnancy, but some studies have shown it to be less effective than the combined regimen. It’s generally used alone when mifepristone is unavailable, inaccessible or contraindicated.
NYC Abortion Access Hub
At a telehealth appointment, providers generally review your medical history, check how far along the pregnancy is and, if the drugs’ use is appropriate, explain how the medication works. Patients also receive after-care instructions and a phone number to call with questions.
The New York City Abortion Access Hub can help people find an abortion provider in the city, schedule an appointment, get financial assistance and find transportation and lodging if needed. When you call the Hub, you’ll be connected to a staff member who will ask you the general questions above, along with what borough you would like services in.
When you use the live chat, you’ll be asked if you have health insurance. Based on your responses, you will be given a list of providers to call for an appointment. This chat is only available in English and Spanish.
You can access these services even if you live outside NYC. The Hub does not collect or record any of your personal information.
Contact: 1-877-NYC-AHUB (1-877-692-2482)
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare
New York City’s public hospital system offers telehealth abortion care through its Virtual ExpressCare program. Medication abortion is available for pregnancies up to 10 weeks.
Through the service, patients can connect with a New York–licensed clinician by video or phone from home, often within minutes. The average wait time for a virtual visit is less than five minutes, according to the hospital system. Once you speak with a clinician, they’ll prescribe medication if you’re eligible. The pills are mailed to an NYC address and usually arrive within a few days.
Interpretation is available in more than 200 languages. And while patients with insurance may pay a copay, those without insurance may qualify for financial assistance programs such as Medicaid or NYC Care. Services are available regardless of ability to pay.
- Contact: visit the Virtual ExpressCare site or call 631-EXP-CARE (631-397-2273).
- Hours of operation: 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Virtual Health Center
The Virtual Health Center run by Planned Parenthood of Greater New York also offers medication abortion through telehealth. Medication abortion through Planned Parenthood is available up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, based on the first day of the patient’s last menstrual period. During the telehealth appointment, patients must be physically located in New York State.
During the virtual visit, clinicians review your health history, confirm how far along the pregnancy is and provide instructions for taking the medication.
After the appointment, patients can pick up the medication at a local Planned Parenthood health center or at a CVS pharmacy.
- Contact: Schedule an appointment online or by calling 212-965-7000.
- Virtual clinic hours of operation: Monday: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Tuesday–Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Know of another NY-based resource for telemedicine abortion access? Let us know at hello@epicenter-nyc.com.
