Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is expanding access to medication abortions through telehealth services, a move that could significantly impact reproductive healthcare access in the state. The organization, which operates a dozen health centers and two surgical facilities, intends to leverage virtual healthcare for this service, building on its existing telehealth offerings for contraception.
Expanding Access, Facing Opposition
According to the Ohio Abortion Report, medication-induced abortions already account for the majority of abortion procedures in Ohio, representing 59% of the 25,135 abortions provided in 2025, or 14,916 procedures. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio President and CEO Erica Wilson-Domer stated that telehealth services aim to address barriers to access, including transportation, childcare, and function schedules.
However, this expansion faces opposition from some Ohio lawmakers. House Bill 324, also known as the Patient Protection Act, seeks to require in-person visits before prescribing certain abortion medications, citing concerns about patient safety with high-risk medications. Representative Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), a sponsor of the bill, argued that the legislation aims to protect the doctor-patient relationship in the context of medical telehealth.
Telehealth and Legal Considerations
Wilson-Domer emphasized that the organization will limit telehealth abortion services to patients located within Ohio, citing the lack of provider shield laws—protections similar to those in states like New York and California—and a desire to remain compliant with state law. She also noted that telehealth medication abortions are protected under the 2023 reproductive rights amendment, and a 2021 state law banning telehealth abortion medication is currently on hold in the courts.
Wilson-Domer asserted that restricting access is “100 percent ideological rather than science and evidence medicine based.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of abortions in Ohio in 2025 were medication-induced?
59% of the 25,135 abortions provided in Ohio in 2025, or 14,916 procedures, were conducted with the use of abortion-inducing drugs.
Will Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio provide telehealth abortions to women outside of Ohio?
No, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio will not allow telehealth abortions for women who live outside Ohio.
What is House Bill 324?
House Bill 324 would require an in-person visit before a doctor could prescribe certain abortion medications.
As lawmakers consider the future of telehealth abortion access, it remains to be seen how these competing priorities will shape reproductive healthcare in Ohio.
