NYC Health + Hospitals Provides Update on Telehealth Abortion Care, Which Offers Medication by Mail to Eligible Patients in New York City

NYC Health + Hospitals Provides Update on Telehealth Abortion Care, Which Offers Medication by Mail to Eligible Patients in New York City

With NYC Health + Hospitals' Virtual ExpressCare telehealth service, patients in NYC can speak to a provider on demand via video or phone from the comfort of their own home

Patients considering abortion are assessed by a clinician and receive education about their options; if eligible, patients can receive medication by mail or schedule an in-person appointment

Medication arrives at an NYC address in a few days

Oct 28, 2024

NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the one-year anniversary of telehealth abortion care through its Virtual ExpressCare service. In its first year, the service has provided over 2,700 virtual visits, mailed over 800 medication abortion kits, and referred an additional 1,050 patients for in-person care. The average wait time for a virtual visit is less than 7 minutes. Over 75% of the patients identify as people of color. The service has a 90% patient satisfaction rate and a Net Promoter Score of 74. The service allows patients in NYC seeking abortion care to speak to a New York State-licensed health care professional on demand by video or phone for an assessment, counseling and access to medication if eligible. The telehealth service is available 7 days a week, 9am - 9pm, and will provide patients with access to safe and legal abortion care. The NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare service is available in over 200 languages and can be accessed at expresscare.nyc or by calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273). A flyer about the program is available in 13 languages: English, Spanish, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simple Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Urdu.

"Health care is a human right and that includes reproductive health care," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. "Since the Dobbs decision, New York City has stood up to protect and defend reproductive rights and make care accessible to all in need. NYC Health + Hospitals' Virtual ExpressCare has helped tens of thousands of people in need of care connect with a medical provider. We will continue to make reproductive health care services available and accessible for all."

"We're proud of the impact our telehealth abortion service has made in its first year, providing safe and accessible care to underserved communities," said Erfan Karim, MPH, Executive Director of NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare. "This milestone highlights NYC Health + Hospitals' ability to leverage technology to break down barriers and ensure equitable reproductive health care for all New Yorkers."

"This service has allowed people to access abortion care earlier in the pregnancy and without the same opportunity cost that a clinic appointment has," said Marisa Nadas, MD, MPH, NYC Health + Hospitals Reproductive Health Clinical Lead and Virtual ExpressCare Associate Medical Director. "It has reached people who would have otherwise struggled to come in for care. People deserve to access abortion care when and where they need it, and telehealth helps make that possible."

The telehealth abortion service by NYC Health + Hospitals is based in and for New York City. Medication is mailed to New York City addresses only and is available to clinically eligible patients who are up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy.

NYC Health + Hospitals offers a wide range of facility-based obstetric and gynecologic services, including primary care, family planning, abortion care, prenatal through delivery care, midwifery and referrals for doula services, postpartum care, breastfeeding and lactation services, breast exams, nutrition, behavioral health referrals, preventative care, first and second trimester abortion care, and vaccinations. Gynecology services include menopause and fibroid treatments, as well as specialty practices for gynecologic cancers, pelvic pain and endometriosis. Patients wishing to make an in-person appointment can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC.

In addition to abortion care, Virtual ExpressCare can offer patients immediate and confidential care for an array of physical and behavioral health concerns, including COVID-19, minor injuries, fever and flu, upper respiratory infections, anxiety, depression, and substance use issues. Virtual ExpressCare is available 24/7, 365 days a year to all New Yorkers at expresscare.nyc or calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273).

Launched in 2020, Virtual ExpressCare has grown to offer approximately 90,000 virtual visits annually. The service played a key role in the City's and State's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Virtual ExpressCare partnered with the New York State Department of Health to offer COVID-19 therapeutics through the State's new COVID-19 hotline, 888-TREAT-NY. The service provides same or next day life-saving COVID-19 therapeutic treatment.

NYC Health + Hospitals serves patients regardless of their ability to pay. The new telehealth abortion care will be covered like any other service. Patients with insurance may need to pay a copay. If patients cannot afford to pay or are uninsured, Virtual ExpressCare will provide care and connect patients to trained financial counselors who can help them enroll in health insurance coverage or financial assistance through NYC Care, Medicaid, and Medicare, with per visit fees as low as $0, depending on patients' income and family size.

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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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