New York City creates telehealth abortion service
Program is designed to help residents overcome barriers to reproductive care
(Dr. Marisa Nádas, MPH, Reproductive Health Clinical lead for NYC Health + Hospitals and Associate Medical Director for Virtual ExpressCare, with Mayor Adams and health system leaders)
New York City now has the first public health system in the country to launch a telehealth abortion access network.
Virtual Expresscare allows patients in New York City seeking abortion care to schedule an appointment to speak with a New York state-licensed healthcare professional by video or phone, on-demand, for an assessment and counseling. Patients can receive a medication abortion kit at their New York City address within a few days.
The program is designed to help people navigate barriers, like travel and other financial stressors, that people have for in-person appointments.
This service will be available seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Patients can access telehealth abortion care online or by calling (718) 360-8981. Patients wishing to make an in-person appointment for obstetric and gynecologic services, including abortion care, should call (844) NYC-4NYC.
Patients must attest to being in New York City at the time of the call and must attest that they will be in New York City when they take the medication. If a patient chooses to receive abortion medication by mail, the address must be in New York City. Medication abortion prescribed during a telehealth appointment is available to clinically eligible patients who are up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy.
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare is available in over 200 languages. In addition to abortion care, patients can receive immediate and confidential care for various physical and behavioral health concerns, including COVID-19, minor injuries, fever and flu, upper respiratory infections, anxiety, depression, and substance use issues.
NYC Health + Hospitals serves patients regardless of their ability to pay. The new access to telehealth abortion care will be covered like any other service. Patients with insurance may need to pay a copay.
Suppose patients cannot afford to pay for the service or are uninsured. In that case, Virtual ExpressCare will provide care and connect patients to trained financial counselors who can help them enroll in health insurance coverage or financial assistance through NYC Care, Medicaid, and Medicare, with per-visit fees as low as $0, depending on patients’ income and family size.
Mayor Eric Adams commented on the program.
“We will never stop fighting for a woman’s right to choose the care that is right for them, and we will never stop working to make abortion care more accessible to all New Yorkers,” Adams said.