Indiana's near-total abortion ban is underway. Here's how neighboring states are preparing

Editor's note: As a result of a rehearing petition filed by the ACLU, Indiana's abortion ban is temporarily stopped until the state can respond.

EVANSVILLE — Abortion in Indiana is now largely banned, leaving those seeking the procedure potentially looking at out-of-state options.

Next door, Illinois and Ohio Planned Parenthood are ready for a surge in patients, something they've already been experiencing. Abortion in Illinois has no restrictions prior to "fetal viability" – usually about 23 to 24 weeks. In Ohio, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks.

In Indiana, abortion will be allowed in the instance of rape or incest, but only up to 10 weeks. Fetal anomaly abortions are permitted up to 20 weeks.

Illinois Planned Parenthood Chief Strategy and Operations Officer Kristen Schultz said an uptick in patients from other states has been apparent since the Supreme Court reversed nullified Roe v. Wade a little over a year ago.

The organization has seen patients from 34 different states. One clinic, in Champaign, expanded in September 2022 in preparation for an uptick in patients from other states. At that point, 11% of its abortion patients were already coming from Indiana.

Traveling for care can limit who receives it

Dr. Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, said restrictions and bans on abortion extend wait times and push patients to travel farther for services.

“Whenever bans or restrictions get put into place, the demand and stress on the surrounding states increases significantly,” he said. “Because patients are wanting to access care (wherever) they can access care – and as soon as they’re able to get that care.”

That inevitably penalizes those with fewer resources who might have to travel to seek care. Leaving their home state means travel costs, hotel stays and meals, at minimum. It could also require time off from work and paying for childcare, among other expenses.

Restrictions also have more long-term impacts aside from people trying to find care, Krishen said. Doctors may decide they don't want to practice in a state where they worry each day if what they are doing is legal.

"One thing we’ve learned is when the extreme, draconian restrictions are put into place they not only affect the immediate care of patients in the state, but they effect the future health care of patients in that state," he said.

Todd Rokita sets sights on patient records

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita joined with 18 other states' attorneys general to ask the federal government to open access to the medical records of patients who seek abortions out of state.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Resources proposed a change to HIPAA that would protect patients who sought legal abortions in another state. It would bar local governments in states where abortion is illegal from obtaining those patients' medical records, shielding them from civil or criminal investigations.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is running for governor, also signed the letter.

When asked about people who might fear seeking care outside of their state, Schultz reiterated Illinois Planned Parenthood's message to the public: "abortion is safe and legal in Illinois."

All the services, patient navigators and locations will continue to be accessible to all.

Both Illinois and Ohio Planned Parenthood state openly on their websites that care is available to everyone — no matter where they live.

For Krishen, it's always been like that.

“Healthcare is healthcare. We take care of anyone who comes and wants to be seen at our facilities," he said. "I think it’s a baked-in philosophy we’ve always had.”

Ohio is preparing to solidify its abortion rights

An amendment to preserve abortion protections in the Ohio state constitution will be on the ballot in November. According to reporting from the Cincinnati Enquirer, the measure officially submitted 495,938 valid signatures and cleared the required threshold in 55 counties.

Danielle Firsich, director of public policy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, said they feel confident about the measure passing. She said states such as Ohio have become a beacon in the South and Midwest.

"We’re surrounded by a sea of states that have restricted care," she said.

Going totally dark on access isn't an option, Firsich said.

"We do know, for an absolute fact, that the majority of Ohioans support access to this care," she said. "As do Americans in every other state in this country."

According to a Pew study, 62% of adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Firsich said they're also aware 2024 will be "enormously consequential." The presidential race has already seen abortion become a huge issue for candidate platforms.

This includes former vice president and governor of Indiana Mike Pence. In July, Pence came out in support of banning abortion in the case of nonviable pregnancy. According to the Associated Press, Pence is the only major candidate who supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks. And he’s also asked other Republican candidates to back a 15-week federal ban as a minimum standard.

There's also the future of the abortion drug mifepristone.

Firsich said the fall of Roe v. Wade was decades in the making. There aren't easy fixes, and advocates will work on long-term strategies.

"The purpose is to make this as chaotic as possible to exhaust people," she said. "To make people put their hands up and say, 'this is too much I don't have the energy to fight this thing.'"

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Abortion is illegal in Indiana. Ohio, Illinois are open for services