Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released “The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States,” confirming that abortion care in the U.S. is highly safe, effective, and can be offered in a variety of health settings.
These findings are particularly relevant in light of the momentum behind SB 320, the College Student Right to Access Act, introduced by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), which would ensure that the abortion pill is offered at every public university student health center in California. In a groundbreaking move, a consortium of funders, including the Tara Health Foundation, the Women’s Foundation of California, and several anonymous donors, has stepped forward to cover the costs to bring medication abortion to public university student health centers in California if SB 320 becomes law. Further information about the implementation fund can be found in the attached document.
Key findings from the report:
• Specific types of facilities are not necessary to ensure the safety of medication abortion. Prior research has also confirmed that UC and CSU student health centers have the basic requirements (space, eligible provider) to begin providing medication abortion services.
• Medication abortion has a notably low complication rate, similar to other common prescription and over-the-counter medications. The report also notes “prescribing medication abortion is no different from prescribing other medications.”
• Women travelling more than 25 miles for services may face disparities in the quality and continuity of their care.
Please see below for quotes from local advocates and lawmakers.
“This study from the prestigious and respected National Academy of Medicine is great news for California, as our Legislature deliberates about requiring our public universities to offer the abortion pill at student health centers” said Senator Connie M. Leyva, (D-Chino), author of SB 320. “It confirms what research has shown for decades—that medication abortion can be safely and effectively provided in a variety of settings. I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to consider these findings and swiftly pass SB 320, the College Student Right to Access Act. It is critical that college students have access to medication abortion on campus.”
“This study confirms that abortion pill is safe, effective, and can be offered in settings that provide other women’s health care and family planning services,” said Surina Khan, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of California. “Students have been using the abortion pill for nearly 20 years—but they’ve always had to leave campus for care. Once a student has decided to end a pregnancy, they shouldn’t be forced to go off campus to see a provider they don’t know. There are already trusted, competent health providers right on campus, where students live. It’s time to offer the abortion pill on campus.”
