Effect of Abortion Restrictions on Medical Providers

Medical providers are choosing not to practice in states with abortion bans and restrictions. And maternity deserts keep growing in the wake of their principled decisions.

In this blog post, the Commonwealth Fund summarizes current research on how abortion restrictions shape the decisions of medical students and health care providers. The number of medical students applying for residency in states with abortion restrictions is decreasing. Medical students cite abortion training and abortion access as important in determining where to complete residency. Because access to abortion care is required for training, there are also concerns around achieving necessary milestones.

Providers are also leaving states with abortion bans and restrictions. They cannot provide appropriate care and may have to delay care until a patient’s life is at risk. This contributes to moral distress, depression, anxiety, and fears of legal repercussions.

As a result of these patterns, access to maternal care, and quality of care, are deteriorating in states with abortion bans and restrictions.

Maternity care deserts — that is, areas with no obstetric providers or hospitals or centers providing maternity care — were recently identified in 35 percent of U.S. counties. These gaps in the maternal care workforce precede the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling (i.e., the Dobbs decision) that overturned Roe v. Wade. But since the Dobbs decision, some states have enacted restrictions on abortion, making access more difficult and heightening disparities among states.

SOURCE: The Commonwealth Fund • AUTHOR: Kristen Kolb • LAST UPDATED: October 22, 2024