WA healthcare providers preparing for influx of patients after Roe v. Wade decision
Since the Roe v. Wade decision draft leak, health care providers in Washington state have been preparing for an influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortion services.
While Friday’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will affect a woman’s ability to get an abortion in some states, it has no bearing on Washington as abortion remains legal. But the state’s role in providing services is expected to be amplified in the coming months, putting a strain on some local resources.
For clinics like Planned Parenthood, the ruling is raising major health concerns, but for others, it’s a welcome change.
“It’s finally like, ‘we get to breathe now.’ We finally have the beginning of freedom though there is so much more to do,” said Kristin Monahan, an executive coordinator with Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising.
Monahan called the ruling an answered prayer. However, for Emily Schuster, Friday’s gratitude stems from where she lives.
“I’m lucky enough to live in a state that’s somewhat supportive of me but not everyone is,” said Schuster, who supports abortion rights.
It’s that sentiment that prompted Gov. Jay Inslee to partner with Oregon and California, declaring the states safe havens for anyone seeking an abortion.
The open arms approach is why the Guttmacher Institute expects to see a 385% increase in out-of-state abortions in the coming months.
Dr. Jen Balkus, a public health expert, said reproductive health clinics can expect a noticeable strain.
“The sort of structural issue here is that as the number of individuals seeking care in Washington increases, we’re not necessarily seeing the same comparable increase in providers,” Balkus said.
Over the decades, abortion providers in Washington have declined from 95 facilities in 1982 to now 51.
Balkus said it is important to highlight the women in Washington who may also be impacted by Friday’s ruling, meaning we could witness a greater disparity in abortion access for some local communities.
“Individuals who have financial resources are going to continue to get the care they need,” said Balkus. “There continues to be those that are of lower income and it particularly affects communities of color. This affects individuals across the gender identity spectrum that have less access to resources (and) are going to be the most impacted. And that is already the case in Washington state.”
King County is already working to address the concerns about access and resources. County Executive Dow Constantine announced a million dollars in emergency funds, of which half would go to local health care systems.
