NYC Health + Hospitals, which operates the public hospitals and clinics in the city, has introduced a new telehealth service that allows people in New York City, US, to access abortion care through Virtual ExpressCare.
This makes it the first US public health system to do so.
This service is available via video or phone, allowing patients to talk to licensed healthcare professionals for assessments and counselling about abortion.
Patients will get a medication abortion kit at their NYC address if deemed appropriate by the clinician.
The service is open seven days a week and claims to offer safe and legal abortion care.
To avail of this service, patients should be in New York City at the time of the call and when they take the medication.
This telehealth service is available in over 200 languages and covers various health concerns, along with abortion care.
Medication abortion via telehealth is available for eligible patients up to ten weeks into their pregnancy.
It is accessible to all New Yorkers, and financial assistance is available for those who cannot afford it, including those without insurance.
In-person appointments are also enabled for patients requiring obstetric and gynaecologic services, including abortion.
Virtual ExpressCare associate medical director Marisa Nádas said: “As our country faces a devastating loss of reproductive rights, New Yorkers should know that they can access safe and legal abortion care from NYC Health + Hospitals.
“By offering access to assessment and counselling for abortion care, as well as the possibility of a remote medication abortion, through Virtual ExpressCare, we are navigating around barriers people face in coming for in-person appointments and further opening up access.”
This initiative is part of the Adams administration's efforts to expand abortion access, particularly in response to concerns about reproductive rights following the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has launched various services to ensure abortion access, including the Abortion Access Hub and free medication abortion at sexual health clinics.
NYC Health + Hospitals provides healthcare services, including primary care, family planning, and gynaecologic care.
