Supreme Court's decision could bring women from out of state to NC seeking abortions

When the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion rights decisions should be made by the states, that put pressure on the 14 clinics in North Carolina that perform the procedure.

Posted 8:20 p.m. Jun 24, 2022 — Updated 11:55 p.m. Jun 24, 2022

Gilbert Baez

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Ali Ingersoll, WRAL reporters

RALEIGH, N.C. — When the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion rights decisions should be made by the states, that put pressure on the 14 clinics in North Carolina that perform the procedure.

Neighboring states – Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia – are likely to put in more restrictions on abortion, making North Carolina the only option for more than 11 million women if and when they consider abortion. Women could travel to North Carolina from as far as Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi to get an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which researches sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide.

Fayetteville clinics brace for surge of South Carolina patients

Two clinics in Fayetteville told WRAL News they are bracing for an influx of patients from South Carolina, where the law says a woman considering an abortion must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage that choice.

In South Carolina, the state health insurance only covers abortion in cases of life endangerment or in cases of rape or incest. Abortions may be performed at 20 or more weeks only in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised physical health. And the state requires abortion clinics to meet what many say are unnecessary and burdensome standards related physical plant, equipment and staffing.

The law does not stop South Carolina residents from travel to other states for medical attention.

The right to cross the state line was mentioned by President Biden in his remarks after the ruling.

"As the attorney general has made clear, women must remain free to travel safely to another state to seek the care they need. My administration will defend that bedrock right," he said.

"If a woman lives in a state that restricts abortion, the supreme court decision does not prevent her from traveling from her home state to a state that allows it."

Abortion is still legal in NC. Here's what the law says

Most abortions performed in North Carolina are on non-state residents

In 2020, more than 25,000 abortions were performed in North Carolina, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Only 1.5 percent of the women who got them in North Carolina were not state residents. 91 of 100 North Carolina counties don’t have a site that offers the procedure.

Jillian Riley, North Carolina director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, said her organization has seen the writing on the wall.

"We are taking it very seriously and making preparations to be able to meet the needs of our patients both in the state of North Carolina and in the southeast region," she said.

Abortion rights activists take to the streets in downtown Raleigh as anti-abortion advocates celebrate

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 26 states are likely to impose near-complete bans on abortion, with many outlawing the procedure as early as six weeks into pregnancy. North Carolina isn't on the list, but South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia are.

"It potentially could increase wait times for patients seeking abortion here in North Carolina," said Dr. Jonas Swartz, the medical director of the Duke Family Planning Clinic. "Certainly, for clinics that provide abortion, we'd have to see how we could increase our capacity to continue to care for our patient population, as well as the patient population from surrounding states."

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