Abortions in Florida plunged more than in any other state in 2024, new data shows
Why it matters: The data shows just how much the six-week ban that went into effect last year limited abortion access for Floridians and residents of Southern states who once relied on the Sunshine State as a haven for access.
Zoom in: The number of clinician-provided abortions dropped from about 85,770 in 2023 to 73,710 last year, per data compiled by Guttmacher, a research group that supports reproductive rights.
The drop-off is especially apparent after the six-week ban went into effect May 1. In the first half of 2024, clinicians provided nearly 45,000 abortions. That decreased to 29,000 in the latter half of the year.
Zoom out: The share of patients traveling to Florida from out of state dropped from about 11% in 2023 to 6% last year. Looking at the last half of 2024, that share was down to 2%.
Virginia likely absorbed patients who would have otherwise traveled to Florida, the analysis notes. Out-of-state abortion patients in that state spiked by about 4,300.
It's the second closest state to Florida that provides abortions beyond six weeks. The closest, North Carolina, has a 72-hour waiting period that can make travel logistics more complicated.
What they're saying: "Florida has a magnified impact," Guttmacher data scientist Isaac Maddow-Zimet told Axios.
The big picture: The number of abortions provided in states without total bans, including Florida, increased slightly from about 1,033,740 in 2023 to 1,038,090 in 2024. That includes abortions provided at health clinics and via telehealth.
"The overall stability in the number of abortions in states without total bans continued despite shifts in policy that have increased obstacles to accessing this care in many states," the analysis notes.
That's largely because of help from abortion funds, which provide funding for the procedure and practical costs like travel and childcare.
Yes, but: Abortion advocates are concerned about the long-term sustainability of that support, Maddow-Zimet said.
Abortion funds have struggled to meet the demand as more states enact restrictions.
And without Florida as an option, residents here and across the south have to travel farther than they ever have. That's a bigger burden for the patient that also typically costs more.
The bottom line: "With each one of these bans that goes into effect," Maddow-Zimet said, "it really narrows people's options for care, and it makes the cost increase astronomically."
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