Expanding abortion access by developing APCs as abortion providers

In the United States, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physicians' assistants, or “advanced practice clinicians” (APCs) are increasingly recognized as legally and clinically qualified providers of medication abortion care. As a fast-growing class of health professionals and in the face of a continued decrease in the number of U.S. abortion providers, APCs have the ability to significantly expand women's access by providing medication abortion as part of their primary or reproductive health care practice.

The Abortion Access Project has been a national leader in efforts to advance APCs as qualified and accepted abortion providers through a combination of state-level legal advocacy, coalition-building, clinical training and technical support. APCs are now providing medication abortion in 15 states (compared to 2 states when the project began) and have been instrumental in expanding services into dozens of new sites, increasing access for thousands of women.

In this session, AAP will discuss state and national level processes used to expand access to abortion by developing APCs as medication abortion providers. Key points will include legal and regulatory issues; engaging key stakeholders; and working with existing clinical standards and practices. Emerging challenges and future steps to solidify APCs as abortion providers and expand the participation of health personnel in the provision of medication abortion will also be discussed. This session will precede or coincide with the publication of a Professional Toolkit designed to help APCs respond to emerging challenges and develop the necessary documentation to support the integration of early abortion into APC practice.