Navigating the Post-Dobbs Landscape: A Roadmap for Interstate Abortion Care

n June 2022, the Supreme Court issued an unprecedented ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson, revoking the constitutional right to abortion for the first time in 50 years. To date, fourteen U.S. states have completely banned abortion. Consequently, individuals residing in states with restrictive legislation are forced to travel to neighboring states to access abortion care and other reproductive services. Extended travel time disproportionately affects individuals from communities of color, low-income patients, and rural residents, increasing the risk for maternal health complications and death. The United States holds the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations, with 33 deaths per 100,000 births (Katella 2023). Alarmingly, 84% of these deaths are considered preventable (Katella 2023). Thus, it is imperative that state healthcare policymakers prioritize equitable access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all patients (Katella 2023). This care should incorporate strategies to decrease on-site patient volume, such as implementing shield laws to protect abortion providers treating out-of-state patients, enhancing telehealth services for abortion medication services, and incentivizing the establishment of physical infrastructure. For state officials in destination states, specifically the 23 governors of the non-partisan Reproductive Freedom Alliance, we recommend immediately prioritizing the establishment and anticipated enforcement of provider shield laws. To ensure widespread and equitable access to reproductive healthcare services, a more robust three-tiered approach is outlined herein, prioritizing: (1) shield laws, (2) telehealth services, and (3) physical infrastructure.