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In a small town in Florida, a half-day drive from Richmond, a woman takes a pregnancy test after realizing her period is a couple of weeks late. If she goes into her nearest Planned Parenthood in Tallahassee to seek an abortion, she may be too late now that Florida’s six-week abortion ban has taken effect. Even if she makes it into the health center prior to the cutoff, she will have to come back again at least 24 hours later due to Florida’s mandatory waiting period.
As Florida’s near-total ban on abortion takes effect, our hearts go out to all impacted. In these troubling times, I want to assure those seeking care: Virginia is here for you.
While no one provider or state can meet the need created by the extreme six-week abortion ban going into effect in Florida, we will do everything we can to both help patients throughout the South who depended on Florida and we will continue to provide care for Virginians.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, we’ve seen a significant increase in those needing to cross state lines for abortion care. In 2022, only 3% of our abortion patients traveled from outside Virginia each month. Now, that number has surged to over 20%. This dramatic increase speaks volumes about the dire situation facing many who, burdened by the logistics and costs of travel, seek essential health care out of state.
The impacts of denied abortion access are profound and far-reaching. Research indicates that those denied abortions face heightened economic hardship, remain in abusive relationships longer, and suffer from worse health outcomes. Their children are more likely to live in poverty and suffer developmental setbacks. For example, after Texas implemented a six-week ban in 2021, there was a noticeable spike in births, coupled with a rise in severe pregnancy-related complications.
These restrictions disproportionately affect women of color, particularly Black women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. This is not just a matter of individual rights; it’s a public health crisis driven by policies that endanger lives by restricting access to necessary medical care.
Fortunately, Virginia has been proactive and a beacon of hope for those seeking care. The 2020 Reproductive Health Protection Act (RHPA) marked a significant advancement for access in our commonwealth, eliminating biased counseling, unnecessary waiting periods and expanding access by allowing qualified nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives to provide care. This legislation has made Virginia a key access state for reproductive health care, especially for those in rural areas.
Looking ahead, we anticipate a further surge in patients from Florida and other states with restrictive laws. To meet this demand, we are doubling our efforts. We are expanding telehealth offerings to include primary care, gender-affirming care and medication abortion. We are strengthening our workforce and have bolstered our team of providers and health center staff in Richmond, Hampton and Virginia Beach. This expansion allows us to accommodate more out-of-state patients and ensure current patients can continue to access the care they need. Additionally, we’re enhancing patient support by investing in patient navigators to assist those traveling for care, ensuring their journey is as seamless and supportive as possible.
Virginia stands ready to offer not just care, but hope. The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood and our partners are committed to ensuring that anyone who comes to us can access the care they need, with dignity and respect. We are here for you. Together, we will continue to champion accessible and equitable reproductive health care, no matter what.
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Paulette McElwain is CEO of the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. Contact McElwain at ceo@vlpp.org.