Authors: Madeline Quasebarth, MA, MHS, Lee Hasselbacher, JD
Published: February 27, 2023 , Updated: May 11, 2023
Brief Report: Illinois Abortion Statistics Update
Illinois Abortion Update, May 2023
Providers in Illinois are averaging a monthly increase of 1,140 abortions in the post-Dobbs environment. Illinois is currently the state experiencing the second highest increase in abortion care. This number will likely heighten, as Florida and North Carolina, increase abortion restrictions. Currently, Florida has a 15 week ban and while legal until 20 weeks in North Carolina, new laws are currently being litigated which could reduce access.
As the legal status of abortion in neighboring states continue to change, more people will travel to Illinois for care. For example, Indiana, where abortion is currently legal but has had short term bans, has seen 50% reduction in people seeking abortion in Indiana. Most likely people from Indiana seeking abortion care are travelling to neighboring states like Illinois to now receive care.
As demonstrated in the graph below, Illinois has been experiencing a steady increase in number of abortions after the Dobbs ruling in June 2022. In states like Ohio, which the policy around the legality and accessibly of abortion has been tumultuous, the number of abortions provided was just reaching pre-Dobbs numbers in December 2022. Similarly, Indiana has seen a steady decrease of number of abortions provided in state, which may be contributed to both the required waiting period and the changing state policies around abortion legality.
The landscape remains heavily regulated for those under the age of 18 seeking abortion care in the Midwest. While Illinois repealed required parental notification in 2021, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa all require either parental consent or notification for minors seeking abortion care within their state. This leaves young people in a particularly vulnerable position in the Midwest, as they can only travel to Minnesota or Illinois – or go through the judicial bypass process – to access abortion care without parental notification.
Overview of Post-Dobbs Illinois
Illinois providers facilitated 1,520 more abortions in August; totaling 30,300 abortions performed between April and August of 2022. Abortions in Illinois account for 7.3% of abortions performed in this time frame in the United States. This large number is attributed to both protective abortion legislation in Illinois and the restrictive abortion policies in states surrounding Illinois. The Illinois state government recently passed a HB 4664, The Patient and Provider Act. This act provides key protections to both people seeking and providing abortion in Illinois. Ci3 will be sending out messaging in the coming weeks breaking down the new changes resulting from the Patient and Provider Act.
Abortion Access Landscape and Illinois
Looking Ahead
The FDA in January 2023 approved a pathway allowing for pharmacy dispensing of mifepristone. As reported by CNBC large retailers such as Walgreens and CVS have announced that they will soon be applying for certification of mifepristone distribution from their stores (6). Messaging around rollout of this new avenue of distribution is still forthcoming. Ci3 has recently completed research on pharmacist readiness and comfort in dispensing mifepristone and possible patient preferences for pharmacy pick-up. A recent Ci3 study, Exploring Illinois contraceptive providers’ interest in medication abortion training, found that some family planning providers are interested in medical abortion training; additional training may increase the number of providers able to counsel, refer, and provide medication abortion (7).
However, the recent case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM) vs FDA seeks to overturn the FDA’s approval of mifepristone (8). An initial ruling has not yet been released, however, it may result in the national prohibition of mifepristone for use of abortion and misoprostol for use of abortion. Up until February 24, 2023 mifepristone and misoprostol are available where abortion is legal, this landscape may rapidly shift given the outcome of AHM vs. FDA. This case may further slow down or completely halt the expansion of mifepristone distribution.
References
- Institute, Guttmacher. “Interactive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access after Roe.” Guttmacher Institute, https://states.guttmacher.org/policies/.
- Society for Family Planning. “#We Count Report”. 28 Oct, 2022. https://doi.org/10.46621/UKAI6324
- Hasselbacher, Lee, et al. “Lessons learned: Illinois providers’ perspectives on implementation of Medicaid coverage for abortion.” Contraception 103.6 (2021): 414-419.
- Caitlin Gerdts, Liza Fuentes, Daniel Grossman, Kari White, Brianna Keefe-Oates, Sarah E. Baum, Kristine Hopkins, Chandler W. Stolp, and Joseph E. Potter. Impact of Clinic Closures on Women Obtaining Abortion Services After Implementation of a Restrictive Law in Texas. Am J Public Health. 2016;106:857–864. doi: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303134
- Abortion provider facilities pre-Dobbs taken from a local abortion advocacy organization, abortion provider facilities post-Dobbs taken from abortionfinder.org
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/abortion-cvs-and-walgreens-will-sell-mifepristone-in-pharmacies.html
- Hasselbacher, Lee, et al. “Exploring Illinois contraceptive providers’ interest in medication abortion training.” Contraception 114 (2022): 58-60.
- Weiss, Haley. “How a Texas Lawsuit Could Alter Mifepristone Access in U.S.” Time, Time, 15 Feb. 2023, https://time.com/6255625/abortion-pills-mifepristone-texas-lawsuit/.
Contact
For more information, please contact Lee Hasselbacher at lhasselbacher@uchicago.edu
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