CM Narcisse on medication abortion expansion plans
Narcisse asks why medication abortion is only at four of six sexual health clinics. Martin says a fifth is being worked on, with challenges mostly around space and logistics. He also notes utilization trends including out-of-state callers.
Why is abortion medication currently available at only four of the city's six sexual health clinics?
And are they plans to expand access citywide?
Yeah, really good question.
You're right.
Four out of the six currently have the capabilities to do this.
We are working on a fifth.
I will say that the challenges are mostly with space.
And some of these services need more than just a simple room.
You know, we need to be able to do the care right by the patient.
And so we're working through some of the challenges with regard to space and logistics.
But it's our hope that we'll be able to expand these services.
Okay.
What trends has DOHMH seen in utilization of the abortion access hub?
So far, what we know from our data is that we've been able to answer about almost 10,000, but 9,400 calls.
We've been able to...
refer about 8,000 patients.
And interestingly, what we see is that
a pretty sizable portion are people who are not even from New York City.
About 25% of the folks who are calling into the hub are from places like Georgia and Texas and others.
And so the service that we're providing, of course, is primarily focused for New York City residents, but we're identifying that
Others across the country are using it as well.
But somewhere I heard that some of the folks from here traveling to other states to get abortion medication or care.
How that...
When I heard it, I was wondering, how come we're leaving the city of New York to go other states?
To get abortion supports, whatever.
Yeah, I haven't heard that.
We will circle back on that and have a conversation with you if it seems like that's true.
Okay.
Has demand for reproductive health services changed in recent years?
I know you knew, but you can make from the data.
Yeah.
It's a good question.
So we'll have to get back to you on exactly what the trend looks like.
I will say that we expect it to because of some of the data that I've just suggested that, you know,
25% of the people who are calling our lines are not even from New York City.
And so as we see the abortion access landscape across the country,
change, I think we're going to end up seeing more intake from our own city.
Okay.
How does DOHMH ensure timely reimbursement for community-based providers delivering those services?