Policy changes in the world of reproductive health made it easier to access some types of abortion when Hey Jane launched in January 2021. Although the Pandemic made it harder for people to see doctors face-to-face, it also made it easier for US regulators to relax rules about abortion pills. Instead of going to a clinic, people can make an appointment with an online provider and receive the pills by mail, opening up the door for Hey Jane and similar services. The federal government made the rule change permanent. It was a rare victory for reproductive rights in America, and many red states quickly created restrictions to prevent abortion providers from legally operating within their borders. Hey Jane currently operates in six states: California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York and Washington. Chief Justice John Roberts substantiated the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that it had voted to overturn the abortion ban in many states. The decision won't be official until June, and it could change, but people like Hey Jane are working on ways to continue providing access. Hey Jane has plans for a post-Roe v. Wade world, what people might not know about abortion pills, and the role telehealth providers might play in states they can't legally serve.
The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Hey Jane works, can you explain how it works?
There is a possibility that Kiki Freedman is right. Patients come to our website and we collect information about their medical history and potential contraindications. They can take that at any time. If medically appropriate, one of our prescribers will give them a prescription for a medication abortion treatment after 24 hours. This treatment will arrive at their doorstep in a few days, and they can take the medication wherever they want. They can chat with us at any point throughout the service. If patients want to connect with one another, we offer an online community. It is the first time that verified abortion patients can connect at the same time online.
In July 2020, a federal judge gave the go-ahead for pregnant people to get abortion drugs without seeing a doctor. It seemed like an opportune time to expand abortion access. We are in a very different place now. Hey Jane is preparing for the likely overturn of Wade.
The overturn of the abortion law would be an attack on individual liberty and equity. It increased our determination to fight for high-quality abortion access for everyone. If the Supreme Court overturns the abortion law, we see telemedicine fulfilling a specific role and an important role. We live in six states right now, and we chose those states to cover the highest number of patients possible, but also to act as strategic anchor states. People may need to travel across state lines to get care in a post-Roe world. The distance they need to travel will be reduced by the model. I think it's because of the data that says California is likely to see a 3,000 percent increase in abortion patients post-Roe, and in Illinois it's 8,000 percent.
How does it work to expand on the anchor states?
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