Michigan’s abortion clinics are facing financial struggles as patients increasingly turn to online abortion services. Despite the state’s reputation as a ‘haven state’ for abortion, clinics are seeing a decline in in-person patients, which is affecting their budgets.
Shift to Online Services
The shift to online services has been driven by the increased availability of telehealth and mailed abortion pills. While this has expanded access to abortion, it has also undercut the budgets of clinics that rely on in-person patients to cover their costs.
According to Shelly Miller, executive director of the Scotsdale Women’s Center clinic in Detroit, the clinic is seeing fewer patients than it used to. ‘Ten sustains you,’ Miller said of the patient volume, ‘three scares you.’ The clinic has seen a decline in patients seeking surgical abortions, with only three patients appearing for appointments on a recent Tuesday, compared to 10 patients per day in the past.
Impact on Clinics
The decline in in-person patients is having a significant impact on clinics. Planned Parenthood of Michigan, the state’s largest provider, has announced the permanent closure of three more clinics, citing cuts in federal funding. The organization now operates only seven clinics, down from 14 just a few years ago.
Clinic operators and doctors are also concerned about the safety of online abortion services. They warn that it can be difficult to discern reputable online providers from those peddling bogus pills, and that online providers may not thoroughly ask patients questions to detect a dangerous ectopic pregnancy.
In-person care often includes an ultrasound to confirm gestational age and that the unborn child is properly situated in the uterus. Michigan also still requires parental consent for abortions, unless a judge decides otherwise. However, it’s easy to lie on an online questionnaire, according to Renee Chelian, founder of Northland Family Planning Centers.
Moreover, online providers may not offer emergency follow-up care, Chelian said. She recalls one patient who returned to her Texas home after receiving a medication abortion at the clinic and called Northland in a panic after she continued to pass blood clots.
Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.
