How many miles do you have to travel to get abortion care? One professor maps it

Since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion a year ago, access to abortion care in the US has declined dramatically.

Mapping the decline: Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College, has collected data on abortion access, with major changes noted in the past year.
* As of April 2023, 14% of the US population is more than 200 miles from the nearest abortion facility, compared to less than 1% a year ago.
* The average distance an American has to travel to reach an abortion provider has increased from 25 miles to 86 miles.

Access challenges: Distance, cost, and life circumstances make it difficult for many to reach abortion providers.
* Most abortion patients are poor or low-income, with more than half facing disruptive life events, and over 80% having subprime credit scores.

Notable trends: Southern states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have experienced significant declines in access, while Maine has expanded access through telehealth and broader care provider eligibility.

View original article on NPR

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