NC abortion providers prepare for increase in patients when Florida’s 6-week ban takes effect
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Abortion providers across the state are preparing for an increase in patients when a six-week abortion ban takes effect in Florida. North Carolina’s 12-week ban is still less restrictive than most southern states.
A Woman’s Choice operates abortion clinics in North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. Next month, a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy is set to take effect in Florida.
“I suspect that we’re going to see a much higher increase in patients coming from our Florida location to our North Carolina locations,” predicted Kelly Flynn, President and CEO of A Woman’s Choice. “Most people don’t know that they’re even pregnant at six weeks.”
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Flynn said North Carolina clinics are already preparing to see more patients.
“We are having conversations with our physicians with other physicians who may be willing to come and provide care on days maybe we wouldn’t ordinarily see patients,” she said.
According to Planned Parenthood, Florida provided about one-twelfth of all abortions nationwide last year. After the six-week ban takes effect, many patients may look for clinics in other states.
Dr. Erica Pettigrew, a primary care and reproductive health physician in Hillsborough, said that some people will likely turn to telehealth for medication abortions, and others, who can afford to travel, will likely find states where they can legally receive an abortion.
“People don’t stop having abortions. They just simply find other means most of the time,” she said.
She added that Florida’s stricter ban will affect people across many southern states.
“It doesn’t just affect Floridians,” she noted. “Florida, even though it has its own abortion bans and restrictions prior to the six-week ban, did serve as a place for people in more restrictive states like Alabama or Georgia or Mississippi to go down to Florida and get their care, and now they’re going to be unable to do that.”
The next closest state that allows abortions past six weeks of pregnancy is North Carolina. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic President and CEO Jenny Black released a statement saying, in part, “Planned Parenthood health center staff in North Carolina are doing their level best to quickly expand capacity and increase appointment availability.”
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Flynn added that A Woman’s Choice can assist patients if they choose to travel.
“If they wanted to go to North Carolina, we would work closely with them on logistics, we would help pay for their travel,” said Flynn.
If patients are past 12 weeks of pregnancy, she said A Woman’s choice will refer them to their clinic in Virginia. That clinic opened in response to North Carolina’s law banning most abortions after 12 weeks.
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