Telehealth vs In-Clinic Medication Abortion Provision

Importance: In states that restrict abortion provision, residents rely on telehealth medication abortion (teleMAB) or travel out of state for in-clinic care; however, little is known about how patients using these modalities differ.

Objective

To compare characteristics of Kansas and Texas residents receiving teleMAB vs in-clinic medication abortion and to assess geographic and socioeconomic factors associated with modality of care. Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective cross-sectional analysis used electronic medical record data for patients residing in Kansas or Texas who received medication abortion care from a teleMAB service or from an abortion facility in Kansas from February 1 to June 30, 2024. Patients younger than 18 years were excluded because only the telehealth site served this age group. Exposure: Patient sociodemographic characteristics (age, race and ethnicity, and number of children), gestational age, and county-level distance to the nearest abortion facility, social vulnerability, and rural-urban designation. Main outcomes and measures: The main outcome was receipt of teleMAB vs in-clinic care. Differences between patients who received teleMAB vs in-clinic care were assessed using χ2 and t tests for bivariate variables and multivariable logistic regression for adjusted comparisons.