A recent study conducted by the University of Washington indicates that there has been an increase in the number of women traveling from different states to seek abortions following the Dobbs decision. This ruling grants states the authority to establish their own abortion regulations.
Abortion restrictions have been implemented in several states, including the neighboring state of Idaho, following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision. In Idaho, abortion is prohibited after six weeks gestation.
The number of abortions performed at the Cedar River Clinics, a large network of care sites, was tracked before and after the Dobbs decision, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
A recent study revealed a noteworthy surge of 50% in out-of-state patients seeking medical care, rising from 4% to 6%. Additionally, the research highlighted that all patients experienced an average one-week delay in receiving the necessary healthcare services.
Dr. Emily Godfrey, the senior author of the paper and a family medicine doctor and OB-GYN at UW Medicine, emphasized the significance of any delays in receiving abortion care. She stated that even a one-week delay can have adverse effects on the health of the pregnant person.
During an interview with The Center Square, Dr. Godfrey expressed concerns about the Dobbs decision, highlighting the negative impact it could have on millions of socially or financially disadvantaged women. She emphasized that women from marginalized communities, including those who are black, brown, adolescents, LGBTQIA, or immigrants, would be disproportionately affected by this ruling. Dr. Godfrey also noted that such disparities would lead to worsening health outcomes among these groups.
According to a study published in JAMA, researchers examined the abortion procedures conducted at Cedar River Clinics from January 1, 2017, to June 23, 2022. Comparing these figures to the number of abortions performed from June 24, 2022, to July 31, 2023, the research team sought to draw conclusions.
Before Dobbs, the majority of out-of-state patients came from Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Texas, accounting for 52%, 9%, 8%, 6%, and 6% respectively.
After Dobbs, the majority of out-of-state patients came from Texas, accounting for 27% of the total. Alaska closely followed with 26% of out-of-state patients. Other states with a significant number of out-of-state patients include Idaho (8%), Louisiana (6%), and Florida (6%).
In an interview with The Center Square, Brian Noble, executive director of the pro-life Family Policy Institute of Washington, shared his thoughts on the report.
“In smaller conservative communities, people often choose to go out-of-state for various reasons. One of the main motivations behind this decision is the desire to maintain privacy and keep their activities discreet from others.”
Noble expressed doubt about the numbers, as he believes that the main priority is to secure funding for these locations.
The authors of the report highlight the importance of making additional investments.
According to the report, there is a pressing need to allocate more resources and investment towards abortion care in Washington. This is evident from the rising number of abortions, out-of-state patients seeking care, and the delays experienced in accessing these services.
In a significant move, Gov. Jay Inslee and the majority of Democrats have allocated a whopping $21 million for the development of abortion infrastructure until 2025. This allocation stands out as the largest funding of its kind in recent history.
Godfrey expressed her desire for increased funding for research.
“It is crucial for the governor to allocate funds for the ongoing monitoring efforts at the University of Washington, which aim to track individuals seeking abortion care in Washington. This will help ensure that health equity is maintained across the state.”
During his tenure as governor, Inslee has been a staunch advocate for various bills aimed at supporting abortion rights.
FPIW states that one of the notable achievements is the passing of the “Reproductive Parity Act” in 2018. This act mandates that all health plans in WA that offer maternity care must also cover abortions. Additionally, the “Protecting Pregnancy Act” was passed in 2021, allowing physicians practicing in Catholic hospitals in WA to perform ‘medically-necessary’ abortions, regardless of the hospitals’ religious directives.
Noble, despite FPIW’s pro-life stance, opposes the allocation of taxpayer funds to organizations that provide assistance to women who choose not to undergo an abortion.
“I strongly believe that the government should not meddle in these matters. It is the responsibility of the church to take action and declare that we will embrace and support these children. Many churches have stepped up and are already doing so, but we need even more to join in.”
In order to make a final decision about their pregnancy, some states have implemented a new regulation that mandates women to undergo an ultrasound. The Guttmacher Institute reports that six states have made it compulsory for abortion providers to perform an ultrasound and explain and display the image to the patient. Additionally, several other states require a pre-abortion ultrasound, but the doctor is only obligated to offer the patient the chance to view the image.
The UW report reveals that there were a total of 18,379 abortions between January 1, 2017, and July 31, 2023. Out of these, 3,378 abortions took place during the post-Dobbs study period, specifically from June 24, 2022, to July 31, 2023.
In Washington, individuals have the right to access abortion services until the fetus is viable or to safeguard their own health.
Godfrey explains that their upcoming research will involve a larger data set, which will include abortion statistics from Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in WA.