Kansans can get telemedicine abortions. Here’s what that means for reproductive care
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What does overturning Roe v. Wade mean for KS, MO?
Kansas and Missouri now have more control over abortion access in their state following the Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 court ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right. Here’s what that looks like.
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Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson has blocked enforcement of a Kansas ban on telemedicine abortions.
This means that patients seeking medication abortions in Kansas will be able to receive prescriptions and consult with their doctor virtually. It’s the first significant abortion-related court ruling in Kansas since voters in August rejected a proposal that would have upheld the ban.
There are currently only five abortion clinics in the state of Kansas: three in the Kansas City area and two in Wichita. There are no remaining abortion clinics in the state of Missouri. You can find their contact information here.
We don’t yet know exactly how the rollout of telemedicine abortion will look in Kansas, but it’s an increasingly popular way of accessing reproductive care.
Nearly one quarter of women in the U.S. will have an abortion by the age of 45. Many of these abortions will be performed using medication. And in an era of telemedicine, experts say it has never been easier to access abortion at home — with or without the support of a medical professional.
We consulted experts on abortion law and care access in Kansas and also Missouri to bring you this no-nonsense guide to so-called “abortion by mail.”
Is telemedicine abortion legal in Missouri or Kansas?
Telemedicine abortion is now legal in Kansas, meaning that providers can prescribe abortion medication and provide consultations virtually.
Missouri still prohibits health care providers from providing telemedicine abortion care, but does not prohibit pregnant individuals from seeking or receiving telemedicine abortion care.
State restrictions currently in place around medication abortion through telemedicine in Missouri do not punish the person seeking it, just the person prescribing or providing it. Look here for more on the current laws around abortion in Missouri.
“Missouri [law] doesn’t make it a crime to access that care yourself,” said Sara Ainsworth, Senior Director of Legal & Policy for If/When/How, a legal aid organization focused on abortion law. “It doesn’t criminalize the person who has an abortion.”
A failed bill from the last Missouri legislative session sponsored by Branson, Missouri, Republican State Rep. Brian Seitz would have further punished out-of-state pharmacists for helping Missouri residents have a medication abortion. It would have also made “trafficking abortion inducing devices or drugs” a felony, although the bill specified that doing so would be illegal “for the purpose of performing or inducing an abortion on another person,” not on yourself. The bill did not pass.
How does a medication abortion work?
Most medication abortions involve two medications, called mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone stops a pregnancy from progressing, and misoprostol is taken a day or two later to empty the uterus. This procedure generally takes place during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Even if you visit a clinic in person to obtain these medications, a provider may still instruct you to take them at home. That’s part of why many pregnant people in the U.S. now opt for telemedicine abortions, in which care is available virtually and the entire process can take place in the comfort of your own home. COVID-19 has only contributed to the demand for this type of care, and Kansans are now able to receive it.
Can Missouri or Kansas residents get abortion care from a provider in another state?
Legally, yes, but some providers might only be licensed to prescribe medication in one particular state. A doctor in Massachusetts, for example, may not be able to prescribe abortion pills to someone in Missouri.
We don’t know yet what challenges Kansas providers may face when trying to send abortion pills by mail within the state’s borders. However, Watson’s ruling will make it easier to consult with a doctor virtually before choosing to obtain this medication.
Another failed bill that was considered in the Missouri House would have made it illegal for anyone to help a pregnant person self-manage an abortion or to possess or transport abortion medication, including through the mail. However, the bill made an exception for “conduct taken by a pregnant woman who aborts or seeks to abort her unborn child.” The bill did not pass.
How can I access medication abortion services in Missouri and Kansas?
One way is to visit an abortion clinic in person. Here’s our overview of where and how to do that in the Kansas City area.
However, this option may not be viable for everyone. For those who prefer to manage an abortion at home or get a prescription and medical advice virtually, the nonprofit group Plan C offers examples of how people in every state can access this care.
“[In] states like Kansas and Missouri, politicians are legislating to create these barriers which are not medically justified,” said Elisa Wells, co-director of Plan C. “We want people to have [this] information so that they can make their own decisions.”
Plan C has tested and verified the claims of the abortion medication providers listed on its website. Wells told The Star that this process included checking these online pharmacies’ shipping times and testing the medications they delivered in a lab to ensure they were legitimate. Her group functions as a resource guide, and does not directly offer legal or medical advice.
Is abortion medication safe?
Experts say yes. Mifepristone has been approved by the FDA to safely end pregnancies for more than 20 years. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also supported its use. Studies have shown that abortion medication is 99.6% effective at ending pregnancies, and that its risk of complications is extremely low.
For specific questions about the safety of abortion medication on your personal health, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.
Where can I go for legal or medical advice regarding a medication abortion?
If possible, experts advise talking with your doctor.
Additionally, the organization If/When/How runs a free and confidential legal helpline for questions about reproductive health care. The helpline can offer advice about your specific situation in your state, including your options if you’re under 18 years old. You can contact the helpline directly by calling 844-868-2812.
If you have questions for a doctor before, during or after an abortion, you can also call or text the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline at 833-246-2632, or connect with the Ally chatbot over WhatsApp at 833-221-2559.
Do you have more questions about abortion law or reproductive healthcare in the Kansas City area? Our Service Journalism team is here to help. Email us your questions at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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