The Digital Clinic
Telehealth has dismantled the physical barriers of the post-Roe era.
The latest data creates a paradox for American policymakers. States have passed the strictest abortion bans seen in fifty years, yet the number of abortions continues to rise. The #WeCount report from the Society of Family Planning confirms that the monthly average of abortions within the medical system reached 98,800 in the first half of 2025. This is a sharp increase from the 79,600 recorded in 2022. The attempt to cut off access through geography has failed because the delivery system has fundamentally changed.
The primary driver of this increase is telehealth. In 2021, the FDA allowed the mailing of abortion pills, a decision that fundamentally altered the landscape. By early 2025, telehealth accounted for 27 percent of all abortions in the US healthcare system. This is up from just 5 percent in 2022. The physical clinic, once the only option and a frequent target for protests, is no longer the sole gatekeeper of care. Patients can now receive consultations and medication from the privacy of their homes.
Economics plays a major role in this shift. A traditional clinic visit often involves travel, childcare costs, and an average medical fee of $560. Telehealth services have driven this price down significantly. Services listed on directories like Plan C offer medication for $150 or less. This price drop removes a financial barrier that previously prevented many low-income women from accessing care, regardless of the legality in their specific state.
The most significant legal development is the rise of "shield laws." These laws are enacted in states that support abortion rights. They protect clinicians who prescribe medication to patients living in states where abortion is banned. This legal innovation allows a doctor in New York or California to serve a patient in Texas without fear of extradition or local prosecution. By June 2025, 55 percent of all telehealth abortions were conducted under these protections. The data shows a 61 percent increase in women from restrictive states utilizing these shield-law providers in just one year.
Disparities still exist based on local infrastructure and knowledge. In South Carolina, where a 12-week ban is in place, 68 percent of abortions are now handled via telehealth. In North Carolina, under similar restrictions, that number is only 18 percent. This suggests that while the technology exists, public awareness and connection to these digital pipelines vary by region.
Outside the formal medical system, an informal network continues to grow. Community groups affiliated with networks like Red State Access share pills without cost. These networks operate in the shadows of the legal system and ensure access for those who cannot afford even the reduced telehealth fees. The official #WeCount numbers do not include these community-based interactions or pills ordered from international online vendors. Consequently, the true number of abortions is likely higher than reported.
The future of this access depends on the regulation of medication. Opponents of abortion have shifted their focus to attacking the legitimacy of mifepristone and the legality of telehealth itself. Experts like Dr. Ushma Upadhyay point to a 25-year safety record for the medication. However, if federal courts or new administration policies restrict the mailing of these drugs, the digital bridge that connects patients in banned states to doctors in shielded states could collapse. For now, technology remains one step ahead of legislation.
Access Adapts: Abortion Trends 2025
How telehealth and shield laws are dismantling barriers despite bans.
The Post-Dobbs Paradox
Contrary to the intent of sweeping state bans, the number of abortions in the United States has not decreased. Instead, the healthcare landscape has shifted dramatically. The latest #WeCount report reveals a resilient system where access is evolving through technology, moving from physical clinics to virtual consultations and mail-order prescriptions.
Rising Numbers
Despite legal restrictions spreading across the map, the monthly average of abortions has climbed steadily since 2022. This upward trend indicates that demand remains constant and patients are finding new avenues to access care.
Data: #WeCount Report (Society of Family Planning)
The Telehealth Shift
Telehealth has become the critical infrastructure of abortion access. From a mere 5% share in 2022, virtual care now accounts for 27% of all abortions.
- ➤ Safety: Research confirms telehealth is as safe as in-person care.
- ➤ Privacy: Consultations happen at home, avoiding clinic protestors.
- ➤ Reach: Available in all 50 states via mail.
Shield Laws: The Legal Firewall
"Shield laws" allow providers in protected states to mail pills to patients in restricted states without fear of local prosecution. This legal mechanism is now responsible for the majority of telehealth abortions.
Growth in Restrictions
Providers served 14,770 women in banned/restricted states in June 2025, a 61% increase from the previous year.
Key Providers
Plan C, Aid Access, Abuzz, We Take Care of Us.
Lowering Costs
Beyond convenience, telehealth drastically reduces the financial burden on patients.
Comparison of average fees.
Uneven Adoption
Even among states with similar bans (e.g., 12-week limits), the reliance on telehealth varies significantly, suggesting differences in public awareness and local networks.
South Carolina
of abortions via Telehealth
North Carolina
of abortions via Telehealth
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