"The outcome of a trial over Missouri's abortion regulations could ripple far beyond the state, potentially creating new availability for women in the Midwest and South who can't access abortion close to home. As a judge weighs the constitutionality of a litany of state restrictions on abortion, the stakes are clear for Missouri women: The decision could hamper access for nearly everyone in the state - or greatly broaden it in ways not seen in decades."
""Opening and reestablishing rights in the state of Missouri would help to alleviate some of the pressure that other states have since so many Southern states have banned abortion," said Julie Burkhart, the co-owner of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois. "It just seems logical that we would see a shift in migration patterns of patients in the country." At her clinic, about a 15-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, Missourians account for about half of all patients, Burkhart said."
A trial in Missouri challenges multiple state restrictions on abortion providers, including a 72-hour waiting period, mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions, and a ban on telemedicine for medication abortions. Missouri voters approved an abortion right in 2024, but restrictive state laws have kept access limited; only procedural abortions are available at three Planned Parenthood clinics. A judge's ruling could either severely limit access for nearly all Missouri residents or significantly expand it in ways not seen in decades. Expansion would shorten travel distances for patients from about a dozen nearby states with bans and could shift regional patient migration patterns. Clinic operators warn that lifting restrictions could alleviate pressure on out-of-state providers, while supporters of the laws frame them as patient protections.
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