Two years after Dobbs, Washington reproductive healthcare providers are struggling to keep up with increased demand

Washington State’s reproductive health care system has been struggling to accommodate surging demand from out-of-state patients in the two years following the United States Supreme Court’s horrific Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a new report from Senator Maria Cantwell (D‑WA) detailed on Monday.

The report paints a dire picture of access in neighboring Idaho, where restrictions have compelled doctors to recommend patients buy air ambulance insurance should they need to be flown to Washington to be treated in a life-threatening situation.

“In Idaho, we’ve been flying out about a patient per week to Utah or Oregon or Washington because the fetus is nonviable or the life of the mother is at risk,” Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative Co-Chair Dr. Edward McEachern said.

“And they’re not able to find someone to provide them care in Idaho. That helicopter ride can cost over seventy grand — that bankrupts families.”

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2024/06/two-years-after-dobbs-washington-reproductive-healthcare-providers-are-struggling-to-keep-up-with-increased-demand.html