Four Months After the Fall of Roe, NAF Reports Ongoing Rise in Patients Traveling for Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2022
Contact: naf@berlinrosen.com

The nation’s largest abortion hotline reported an 800% increase in plane or bus trips and a 500% increase in hotel room bookings in the months after Dobbs

NATIONAL – Today, the National Abortion Federation, which operates the National Abortion Hotline—the largest national, multi-lingual abortion assistance hotline in the US—released updated numbers about Hotline-funded travel since the overthrow of the Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court on June 24. Compared to the same period last year, the Hotline has seen a significant increase in the need for travel funding for patients seeking abortions. The National Abortion Hotline supports patients with provider referrals, case management services, and financial assistance to help them pay for the cost of care and travel-related expenses.

From July – September 2022 The National Abortion Hotline supports:

• 257 hotel rooms for patients traveling to access care, compared to 42 during the same period last year (a 511% increase).
• 200 trips by plane or bus for patients traveling to access care, compared to 23 during the same period last year (a 770% increase).
• 57 rideshares for patients traveling to access care, compared to 3 in the same period last year (an 1800% increase).
• 31,000 abortion procedures since June 25. To date in 2022 (Jan 1 – Oct 23), the National Abortion Hotline has funded more than 90,000 abortion procedurescompared to over 86,000 during the same period last year.

Veronica Jones, Chief Operating Officer, National Abortion Federation said:

“The National Abortion Hotline is a critical part of the abortion access infrastructure in a post-Roe world, as more people are forced to travel to access care. While we’ve supported thousands of patients since June, each new restriction that goes into effect means more people will be forced to leave their home states for abortion care. The truth is, abortion bans are intended to make access to care onerous, and even with financial assistance, some people still can’t get the abortion care they need. Until we restore abortion rights for all and remove the burdens that have made access to abortion care so difficult even in the past Roe is withdrawn, there will always be people who do not have access to the care they want and need.

NAF is committed to helping anyone, regardless of their income, race, or zip code, access abortion care. Anyone in any state can call the NAF Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 to understand their options and get the help they need, whether it’s help finding a provider, making travel arrangements to another state, or funding their care.”

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