State and federal abortion restrictions increase risk of COVID-19 exposure by mandating unnecessary clinic visits.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To quantify the number of medically unnecessary clinical visits and in-clinic contacts monthly caused by US abortion regulations.

Study design

We estimated the number of clinical visits and clinical contacts (any worker a patient may come into physical contact with during their visit) under the current policy landscape, compared to the number of visits and contacts if the following regulations were repealed: (1) State mandatory in-person counseling visit laws that necessitate two visits for abortion, (2) State mandatory-ultrasound laws, (3) State mandates requiring the prescribing clinician be present during mifepristone administration, (4) Federal Food and Drug Administration Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for mifepristone. If these laws were repealed, "n

SUBMITTER: Fulcher IR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7474961 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature