Arkansas Abortion Ban: Over 2,250 Abortions Reported Despite Strict Regulations

ARKANSAS, USA — Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Arkansas was one of 14 states to implement a total abortion ban. However, a recent report reveals that approximately 2,250 abortions were recorded among Arkansas residents between July and December 2023, despite the state’s strict regulations.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has stated that no abortions were performed within the state itself. This discrepancy arises from the Society of Family Planning’s WeCount report, which highlights that 970 of these abortions were conducted through telehealth services, facilitated by shield laws in eight states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Vermont, and Washington—that protect clinicians providing telehealth abortion care.

Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, a researcher with the Society of Family Planning, explained, The telehealth providers working in these eight states are operating legally under their own state laws. From their perspective, it is completely legal.

The remaining 1,280 Arkansas residents sought abortion services out of state, as the ADH does not track procedures performed outside its jurisdiction. According to the ADH, The department collects data from in-state providers and facilities for the Induced Abortion data reports as required by Arkansas law. We are unable to track abortions that take place out of state or outside of a healthcare facility.

Despite some access through telehealth, Upadhyay expressed concern over the implications of the ban. My concern is that there are zero abortions provided legally in Arkansas when there should be at least a handful of life-saving abortions allowed in the state, she said.

This situation is affecting the availability of healthcare providers as well. Upadhyay noted that many newly trained OB/GYNs are hesitant to move to states with restrictive abortion laws. They don’t want to practice in a state where they can’t fulfill their professional obligations, which impacts all types of pregnancy care in these areas.

As the landscape of reproductive healthcare continues to evolve, the challenges faced by residents in Arkansas reflect broader national issues surrounding access and the implications of state laws on medical practice.

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