Home / Health / CDC Abortion Report Delayed Amid Staffing Woes
CDC Abortion Report Delayed Amid Staffing Woes
10 Dec
Summary
- CDC's yearly abortion trends report delayed until spring.
- Internal changes and staffing issues cited as reasons for delay.
- Non-government researchers show increase in abortions via telehealth.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a significant delay in releasing its annual abortion trends report, now anticipated in spring instead of its usual late November timeframe. The agency attributes this postponement to internal restructuring and critical staffing issues, which have impacted its ability to analyze voluntarily submitted state data.
This year's report was expected to be particularly consequential, offering the first comprehensive federal overview of abortion statistics following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the nationwide right to abortion. Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry stated that funding and staffing limitations prevented the program's continuation.
Amidst the CDC's delay, non-governmental researchers are actively tracking abortion trends. A recent report highlights an increase in abortions, with medication abortions provided via telehealth now comprising 27% of all procedures. This shift is partly attributed to state shield laws enabling cross-state telehealth prescriptions, demonstrating ongoing access to care despite varied state regulations.
