Telehealth Abortion Patients Differ From In-Clinic Patients in Kansas and Texas

Researchers analyzed electronic medical records for Kansas and Texas residents receiving medication abortion from a telehealth service or an abortion facility in Kansas between February 1 and June 30, 2024. The retrospective cross-sectional study included 12,823 telehealth patients and 725 in-clinic patients; those younger than 18 years were excluded. The primary outcome was care modality, with patient characteristics and county-level measures examined using adjusted and unadjusted analyses.

In both states, telehealth patients were more likely than in-clinic patients to be under 6 weeks’ gestation: 61% versus 27% in Texas and 59% versus 33% in Kansas. They were also more likely to have no children: 44% versus 7% in Texas and 51% versus 4% in Kansas. Hispanic, Latino, Latina, or Latine patients made up a larger share of telehealth than in-clinic patients in both states; the difference remained after adjustment among Texas residents. In Texas, greater distance from in-clinic care was associated with greater likelihood of telehealth use.

The findings describe differences between patients using the two care modalities and suggest telehealth may be associated with earlier access. The retrospective, cross-sectional design cannot establish that telehealth caused earlier care or determine outcomes after abortion. The analysis covers two states and a limited period.