Abortion access in the city is expanding to the comfort of New Yorkers’ homes.

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams and officials announced the start of abortion care through telehealth, making New York the first city to offer this type of service.

“People in New York City seeking abortion care will be able to speak to a New York state licensed health care professional by video or by phone,” Adams said on Monday. “That provider will be able to prescribe abortion medication that will be delivered to your New York City address within days.”

What You Need To Know

  • Starting this week, New Yorkers 15 years old and older will have access to telehealth abortion care

  • The new service will be available seven days a week from 9 a.m to 9 p.m.

  • Under the service, New Yorkers must have a city address and if eligible will be mailed abortion pills through the mail

  • New service comes as a Supreme Court case is pending regarding the use of the abortion drug Mifepristone which is part of the two drug regimen used in medication abortion

The new service is being made available through the city’s public hospital system, New York City Health and Hospitals. Patients can access the expanded care seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Officials say that the goal of the new service is to make it easier for anyone to access safe and affordable health care.

“A person, it could be due to challenges in transportation, mobility or other disabilities or just in life circumstances. Ultimately, this action will meet people where they are,” Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom.

The expanded access to abortion medication comes as use of the drugs have been on the rise, according to city officials.

Officials say if medication is mailed to the patient, it is done so in a discreet envelope.

“Nationwide, according to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 50% of abortions are now occurring with the use of medication,” added Williams-Isom. 

Patients who use the service will have to attest to having a city address, though officials acknowledged those coming from out of state could potentially take advantage of the care.

“All over the city, people are traveling to access abortion care,” Dr. Marisa Nádas, Associate Medical Director at Virtual ExpressCare, said. “If someone calls us from outside the city, we will assist them to navigating to care. We won’t be able to prescribe them to telehealth medication abortion, but we will help them connect to care.”

The effort comes in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court last year.

Since then, the city has signed into law and instituted programs aimed at maintaining abortion access in the city.

Meanwhile, there is a Supreme Court case pending over the use of the abortion drug mifepristone. Opponents of the pill argue that the Food and Drug Administration illegally approved a dangerous drug they say shouldn’t be prescribed past seven weeks.

Mifepristone, along with misoprostol, are a two-drug regimen used in medication abortions.

“Because we know that restricting access to abortion is simply about controlling women’s bodies, their choices and their freedoms. We’re going to stand up and have a united front to push back on that,” added Adams.

The abortion medication prescribed for telehealth patients is only available for patients up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy.

Patients must be 15 years old to access telehealth abortion care. However, anyone can call for counseling services or walk in to NYC Health + Hospital facility for additional care.