Medication Abortion Access Program

Essential Access Health’s Medication Abortion Access Program works to reduce barriers to abortion care in California and beyond.

The United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe vs. Wade and decimated nearly fifty years of precedent that established and protected the right to abortion. An estimated 21 million people are currently denied access to abortion, which could grow to about 36% of the population once new laws take effect and if injunctions on bans are lifted.

Even before the Supreme Court decision, the politics surrounding abortion created unnecessary barriers to access, particularly for adolescents, low-income individuals, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and individuals living in rural areas. It is expected that legal abortion access may soon be completely halted or nearly fully restricted in 26 states and the average distance to an abortion provider could increase from 56 to 156 miles. Track abortions bans and laws by state here.

Integrating abortion and early pregnancy loss management into primary care is a key strategy to increase access, particularly for individuals who are now forced to travel long distances. Increased availability of medication abortion has the potential to close gaps in abortion care and help ensure everyone can get the abortion services they need, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status, geographic location or immigration status.

The Medication Abortion Access Program supports the integration of medication abortion (MAB) and/or early pregnancy loss (EPL) management at university student health centers, primary care clinics, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and other diverse health settings.

Medication Abortion Access Program activities include:

Billing + coding for MAB and EPL
Fiscal separation of federally restricted funds
Messaging for Board, staff and community
Clinical protocols + workflows
Patient education + material development
Resources for clinical operations + consultation
Connection to legal services