Abortions at Home: Hotline Support Grows as Clinic Access Tightens.

The M+A hotline handled about 14,000 calls last year and receives roughly 40 texts a day; volunteers report more callers managing abortions at home when they cannot get clinic appointments.

More people are managing abortions at home and are turning to a medical hotline for help. The M+A hotline reported substantial use last year and volunteers say they are answering a wide range of medical questions. The service operates daily and is staffed by clinical volunteers who handle calls and texts. Volunteers note an increase in calls from people who could not secure clinic appointments and are seeking guidance. Key points: - The M+A hotline received a little over 14,000 phone calls last year, roughly 40 calls per day, and also receives about 40 text messages per day. - The hotline is open seven days a week and is staffed by more than 100 volunteers, nearly all of whom are physicians, nurses, midwives, or other health care professionals. - Call topics include whether to continue regular medications with abortion pills, using mailed pills to address miscarriage or abortion care due to cost or insurance limits, and callers supporting someone having an abortion. - Volunteers report more medical questions related to managing abortions later in pregnancy when people could not obtain clinic appointments. Summary: Hotline use reflects increased reliance on remote medical support as some people face limited clinic access. Undetermined at this time.