A report from the Guttmacher Institute reveals that Florida's six-week abortion ban, implemented in May, caused a significant decline in abortions within the state and influenced national trends. Monthly abortions in Florida dropped by more than 30%, falling from over 8,000 to about 5,400. This sharp decrease accounted for over a third of the 7% national decline during the same period.
Before the ban, Florida was a key access point for abortions in the South, attracting thousands of out-of-state patients, particularly from states with stricter bans like Texas and Alabama. The new restrictions have created challenges for patients and providers, leading to increased travel distances and financial burdens for those seeking care.
Despite the recent declines in Florida, abortions in the U.S. overall have increased in states without bans, with a rise in support systems like telehealth and funding for abortion care. However, access remains severely restricted in banned states, illustrating the rapidly changing landscape of abortion access in the country.
