This report presents findings from a qualitative study examining state, local, and institutional policies in Virginia—one of the only remaining states in the South post-Dobbs with legal access to abortion care past 13 weeks gestational age. The authors reviewed legislation, bills, and sources detailing the policy landscape in Virginia and interviewed clinicians and nonclinicians working at organizations providing or supporting abortion care.
Authors
Lee, Yoony, Buenaventura, Maya, Miner, Skye A., Shiferaw, Mekdes, Holzer, Rachel, Rollison, Julia
- Division
- RAND Social and Economic Well-Being Social and Behavioral Policy
- Pages
- 32
- Published in
- United States
- RAND Identifier
- RR-A3324-2
- RAND Type
- report
- Rights
- RAND Corporation
- Series
- Research Reports
- Source
- https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3324-2.html
Table of Contents
- Understanding the State and Local Policies Affecting Abortion Care Administration Access and Delivery 1
- Methods 3
- Findings 4
- Recent Significant Changes in Virginia Abortion Policy Pre- Dobbs 4
- Research Question 1. What Are the Current Laws and Policies on Abortion in Virginia 4
- Past and current legislative actions underscore a deep polarization on abortion issues in Virginia. 5
- Research Question 2. What Are the Potential Impacts of These Different Types of Policies on Access to Care 11
- Some respondents shared that legislation allowing APRNs to provide abortion care facilitated being able to see more patients at clinics. 13
- Limitations of the Study 14
- Discussion 15
- Conclusion 16
- Policies that remove restrictions on practice but do not provide state-based Medicaid funding may burden abortion funds and perpetuate inequities in health care for people seeking abortions. 17
- Summary of Virginia Abortion Laws and Pending Bills 18
- Current State of Abortion Laws in Virginia 18
- Organizations supporting abortion care in Virginia have stated that the general prohibition on third- trimester abortions means that abortion is banned after 26 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. 19
- Local Legal Issues 23
- Recent and Pending Bills in Virginia 24
- Notes 26
- References 29
