Maine abortion provider braces for more out-of-state visitors

After Friday’s Supreme Court docket ruling, unbiased public abortion suppliers in Maine are getting ready for the likelihood that extra individuals will come right here in search of entry.

The Mabel Wadsworth Heart in Bangor is the northern-most clinic on the East Coast that gives public abortion providers. It is a lengthy option to drive for many who stay in states with out abortion entry, stated Abbie Strout-Bentes, the middle’s director of group engagement.

“There’s going to be so many individuals that have to journey for care, that individuals will doubtless come to our clinic as nicely,” she stated. “We wish to get phrase out that we’re there.”

The middle as soon as noticed extra Canadians in search of abortion care than individuals from different states within the U.S. However Strout-Bentes expects that may quickly change.

“We have now heard from consultants that they assume if individuals fly for care they’re going to go to locations the place they’ve group, the place they’ve household or associates,” she stated. “We very nicely might be a vacation spot for some of us touring from different states, and so we’re ready to extend the variety of days that we offer abortion care based mostly on the demand.”

The middle may even add extra telehealth providers, so it may possibly improve entry to medicine abortion on the clinic, Strout-Bentes stated.

Abortion stays authorized in Maine. However as a result of the November election may have a serious affect over Maine’s abortion legal guidelines, Strout-Bentes stated the middle will develop its get-out-the-vote efforts within the Bangor space as nicely.