Virtual Clinics Have Been a Fast-Growing Method of Abortion. That Could Change.
Most telemedicine providers are not concerned by court rulings that could have a negative effect on their business.
Abortion providers are a rapidly growing but nascent industry that administers abortions through telemedicine. They do not have physical clinics. The federal court's ruling on Wednesday, which aims to prohibit the mailing of abortion pills, could make it difficult for these providers to operate.
As they wait for clarification from the Food and Drug Administration, some of the virtual clinics, including Hey Jane and Juniper Midwifery as well as Pills by Post and Carafem, say that they will continue to offer medication abortions, which include mifepristone - the pill in dispute. Honeybee, the mail-order pharmacy that fills prescriptions for the majority of these clinics and is the largest in the United States for abortion pills, has said it will continue to send the pills to those 24 states which allow it.