Abortion in the United States Dashboard
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal constitutional standard that had protected the right to abortion. Without any federal standard regarding abortion access, states will set their own policies to ban or protect abortion. The Abortion in the United States Dashboard is an ongoing research project tracking state abortion policies and litigation following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Be sure to click on the buttons or scroll down to see all the content. It will be updated as new information is available.
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Abortion Back at SCOTUS: Can States Ban Emergency Abortion Care for Pregnant Patients?
On April 24, 2024, the Supreme Court will hear the second case this term involving access to abortion: Idaho v. United States. At stake in this case is whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to patients who present to their emergency rooms, preempts state abortion laws and requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide abortion care when it is necessary to stabilize a patient’s condition, even when this abortion care violates state law.
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The Comstock Act: Implications for Abortion Care Nationwide
This brief provides background on the Comstock Act, reviews how it has been interpreted by the Biden Administration’s DOJ, and considers how it could be enforced by an administration that is hostile toward abortion to severely restrict the distribution of drugs and supplies used for abortion, with implications for abortion access in all states across the country.
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Women’s Views of Abortion Access and Policies in the Dobbs Era: Insights From the KFF Health Tracking Poll
Our latest poll finds one in five women of reproductive age in states with abortion bans say either they or someone they personally know has had difficulty obtaining an abortion. Majorities of women across states—including in those with abortion bans—think abortion should be legal in all or most cases and support a range of policies that protect abortion access.
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81% of Abortions Occur Before 10 Weeks
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Out-of-Pocket Abortion Costs
In 2021, the median costs for people paying out of pocket in the first trimester were $568 for a medication abortion and $625 for a procedural abortion. The Federal Reserve estimates that nationally about one-third of people do not have $400 on hand for unexpected expenses. For low-income people, who are more likely to need abortion care, these costs are often unaffordable.
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What’s at Stake for Access to Medication Abortion and the FDA in the Supreme Court Case FDA v. the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine?
The Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments for the case FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. This brief explains the issues at stake before the court and their implications for the drug regulatory process and medication abortion access throughout the country.
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Abortion Back at SCOTUS: Can States Ban Emergency Abortion Care for Pregnant Patients?
On April 24, 2024, the Supreme Court will hear the second case this term involving access to abortion: Idaho v. United States. At stake in this case is whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to patients who present to their emergency rooms, preempts state abortion laws and requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide abortion care when it is necessary to stabilize a patient’s condition, even when this abortion care violates state law.
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State and Federal Reproductive Rights and Abortion Litigation Tracker
This State and Federal Reproductive Rights Litigation tracker aggregates information about ongoing litigation regarding abortion bans and restrictions, FDA approval of Mifepristone (an abortion pill) and other federal regulations.
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The Comstock Act: Implications for Abortion Care Nationwide
This brief provides background on the Comstock Act, reviews how it has been interpreted by the Biden Administration’s DOJ, and considers how it could be enforced by an administration that is hostile toward abortion to severely restrict the distribution of drugs and supplies used for abortion, with implications for abortion access in all states across the country.
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A Review of Exceptions in State Abortion Bans: Implications for the Provision of Abortion Services
This issue brief examines the varying exceptions (for life, health, rape/incest, and fatal fetal anomalies) in state abortion bans and restrictions and the complications that arise when pregnant people attempt to access abortion care under these exceptions.
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Addressing Abortion Access through State Ballot Initiatives
This issue brief explains why constitutional amendment ballot measures have become so popular with advocates on both sides of the abortion issue, reviews the current initiatives that are in progress and may appear in on state ballots the next general election, and outlines the processes states have available to them to use to place initiatives on the ballot.
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Who Decides When a Patient Qualifies for an Abortion Ban Exception? Doctors vs. the Courts
While all eyes were on Texas and the recent case of Kate Cox, a woman seeking a court order allowing her abortion under an exception to the Texas abortion ban, the conflict could have played out in many states. The risk to doctors is so high that many doctors are hesitant to provide life-saving abortion care unless the threat to life is imminent.
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Abortions Later in Pregnancy in a Post-Dobbs Era
This brief explains why individuals may seek abortions later in pregnancy, how often these procedures occur, and the various laws which regulate access to abortions later in pregnancy across the country.
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As part of efforts to limit abortion access, some states have taken action to block the use of telehealth for abortion. Among the 36 states & DC that have not banned abortion, twelve states have at least one restriction that requires at least one trip to the clinic, and effectively ban telehealth for medication abortion
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The Availability and Use of Medication Abortion
This factsheet provides an overview of medication abortion, with a focus on federal and state regulations pertaining to its provision and coverage, and the role of the drug in self-managed abortions.
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Current Abortion Coverage Restrictions
Several states have enacted private plan restrictions and have also banned abortion coverage from ACA Marketplace plans. Currently, there are 10 states that restrict abortion coverage in private plans and 25 that ban coverage in any Marketplace plans.
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Abortion Decision Renews Questions About Employer Access to Health Information
This Policy Watch takes a look at employers ability to access abortion information when their health plan covers abortion services. With some states criminalizing entities who assist in abortions, employers and providers face legal jeopardy and existing privacy laws such as HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) may be limited in their privacy protections.
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Variability in Payment Rates for Abortion Services Under Medicaid
This brief looks at Medicaid reimbursement rates for abortion services across states, including D&C and D&E procedures, and medication abortion. There is tremendous variability in how much states reimburse for abortion services.
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The Hyde Amendment and Coverage for Abortion Services Under Medicaid in the Post-Roe Era
This brief details the federal programs that are affected by the Hyde Amendment and laws and regulations that have a similar goal, provides estimates on the share of women insured by Medicaid affected by the law, reviews the impact of the law on their access to abortion services, and discusses the potential effect if the law were to be repealed.
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Employer Assistance with Abortion Related Travel Costs
This Policy Watch gives an overview of employers offering to cover travel expenses for workers who need to go out of state for an abortion in the context of increasing restrictions on abortion around the country. We discuss who is offering these benefits, the implications for workers, and some of the legal and political concerns for employers.
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Coverage of Abortion in Large Employer-Sponsored Plans in 2023
This brief presents findings from the 2023 KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey on coverage of abortion services in large employer-sponsored health plans, changes employers made to abortion coverage since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling, and employers’ provision of financial assistance for travel out of state to obtain an abortion.
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KFF Health Tracking Poll March 2024: Abortion in the 2024 Election and Beyond
This poll finds 1 in 8 voters say abortion is the most important issue to their vote. They are younger, lean Democratic, and generally want abortion to be legal in all or most cases. The poll also gauges the public's views on abortion-related policies, including a national 16-week abortion ban and allowing abortion for pregnancy-related emergencies.
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Women’s Views of Abortion Access and Policies in the Dobbs Era: Insights From the KFF Health Tracking Poll
Our latest poll finds one in five women of reproductive age in states with abortion bans say either they or someone they personally know has had difficulty obtaining an abortion. Majorities of women across states—including in those with abortion bans—think abortion should be legal in all or most cases and support a range of policies that protect abortion access.
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Pregnancy-Related Mortality (per 100,000 births) by Race/Ethnicity, 2007-2016
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native people are more likely to die while pregnant or within a year of the end of pregnancy compared to White people. Limited access or bans on abortion may widen existing disparities in maternal and infant health.
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Racial/Ethnic Distribution of Women Ages 18-49 Living in States with Trigger or Pre-Roe Bans, 2019
Over four in ten of women between ages 18-49 living in states where abortion has become or will likely become illegal are women of color, who may face disproportionate barriers to accessing abortions if they have to travel out-of-state.
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Understanding Pregnancy Loss in the Context of Abortion Restrictions and Fetal Harm Laws
This brief examines how policies aimed at limiting abortion may have negative consequences on people experiencing pregnancy loss.
**This analysis was conducted prior to June 24, 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion.**
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A National Survey of OBGYNs’ Experiences After Dobbs
This report, based on a nationally representative survey of office-based OBGYNs practicing in the United States, examines the provision of sexual and reproductive health care provided by OBGYNs before and after the Dobbs decision, comparing the experiences of OBGYNs practicing in states where abortion is fully banned, states with gestational restrictions, and states where abortion remains available under most circumstances.
Latest Resources From KFF
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At the Supreme Court: What’s at Stake for Emergency Abortion Care?
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Abortion Back at SCOTUS: Can States Ban Emergency Abortion Care for Pregnant Patients?
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Could the Comstock Act Be Used to Limit Abortion Access Nationwide?
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The Comstock Act: Implications for Abortion Care Nationwide
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One in Five Women of Reproductive Age in States with Abortion Bans Say They or Someone They Know Has Had Difficulty Accessing an Abortion Since Dobbs
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Women’s Views of Abortion Access and Policies in the Dobbs Era: Insights From the KFF Health Tracking Poll