Where did Texans seek out-of-state abortion access in 2023?
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AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The majority of Texans seeking abortions traveled to New Mexico for access during 2023, according to new data from the Guttmacher Institute.
The report evaluates the number of out-of-state abortions Texans received in 2023, the first full year after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Monday marks the second anniversary of the legislation's overruling by the Supreme Court, which paved the way for Texas' current ban on abortion care save for very limited exceptions.
New Mexico received the highest number of Texas patients, with 14,200 abortions performed for Texans in 2023. Kansas came in second with 6,720 abortions performed and Colorado in third with 4,400 abortion services for Texans.
The complete outflow map is broken down as follows:
- Texans to New Mexico: 14,200 abortions performed
- Texans to Kansas: 6,720 abortions performed
- Texans to Colorado: 4,400 abortions performed
- Texans to California: 3,580 abortions performed
- Texans to Illinois: 1,570 abortions performed
- Texans to Florida: 1,150 abortions performed
- Texans to Nevada: 880 abortions performed
- Texans to New York: 570 abortions performed
- Texans to Washington: 260 abortions performed
- Texans to Arizona: 230 abortions performed
- Texans to New Jersey: 200 abortions performed
- Texans to Virginia: 190 abortions performed
- Texans to North Carolina: 170 abortions performed
- Texans to Maryland: 170 abortions performed
- Texans to Georgia: 150 abortions performed
- Texans to Michigan: 120 abortions performed
- Texans to Massachusetts: 120 abortions performed
- Texans to Pennsylvania: 120 abortions performed
What's the methodology behind the dataset?
The Guttmacher Institute is a research and policy nongovernmental organization tracking and advocating for sexual health and reproductive-related issues. Researchers gathered the estimated number of clinician-provided abortions in each state that doesn't have a total ban during 2023.
Those figures include both procedural and medication-based abortions that are provided at in-person health facilities like clinics or doctor's offices, as well as through telehealth and virtual provider services. Self-managed abortions -- or those completed by using abortion pills from a community support network or other resources -- are not included in the dataset.
"Abortions are counted as having been provided in the state in which a patient had a procedure or where pills were dispensed," the study explained.
Which states have similar abortion restrictions to Texas?
The report found Texas is among the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to abortion care access. Other states categorized under the same ranking (but that may have different abortion laws on the books) as Texas include:
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Missouri
- Indiana
- Oklahoma
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Idaho
Nationally, more than one million abortions were provided in U.S. states without total abortion bans in 2023, the report found. That marked an 11.5% increase in clinician-provided abortions in states that don't have a total ban since 2020, the report added.
Here in the Lone Star State, the Texas Medical Board unanimously approved Friday new rules that offer extra guidance for circumstances where doctors can legally perform emergency abortions within the state.
Under the new requirements, physicians are mandated to complete documentation that explains and when they decide to perform an abortion, Nexstar's Monica Madden reported. That documentation must be completed within seven days of providing a patient with an emergency abortion.
“If a woman’s life is in danger there is no uncertainty there,” said Texas Medical Board President Sherif Zaafran, M.D. “That is where action should happen quickly.”
More details on the report are available online.