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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
While Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act severely limits access to surgical abortions in the state, a new report shows women are instead increasingly turning to telehealth visits with out-of-state providers where abortion is legal and protected to obtain chemical abortion pills which now account for the majority of all abortions in the U.S.
The Society for Family Planning released data earlier this week showing that between January and June of 2025, approximately 750 abortions each month were obtained by Tennessee residents who relied on virtual visits and mailed-out or picked up abortion pills.
According to the #WeCount report, nearly all abortions in Tennessee and 12 other states with some level of abortion bans in the first half of 2025 have been provided through telehealth visits with providers who are covered under shield laws, which protect healthcare providers in Democrat-led states from legal action against them by authorities in states with anti-abortion laws.
“Telehealth has become a lifeline for people accessing abortion care, especially those in states with abortion bans,” said Usma Upadhyay, co-chair of the report and a professor at the University of California.
Tennessee has also theoretically outlawed telehealth for abortions and criminalized the mailing of abortion pills, but the law only applies to clinicians, not those seeking the abortions.
Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) attempted to more thoroughly address the mailing of abortifacients during the 2025 legislative session through the Unborn Child Protection Act, but the bill never made it out of its assigned House subcommittee.
The #WeCount statistics are corroborated by a separate report released earlier this year by the Guttmacher Institute showing that while travel numbers for out-of-state clinical abortions have decreased, abortions by pill are steadily increasing in Tennessee.
Nationally, the #WeCount report found that between January and June of 2025, more than 500,000 abortions were performed, including in-clinic procedures and abortion via medication. The percentage of telehealth abortions during the same period rose 25% from the end of 2024.
Overall, abortion numbers continue to climb, with 99,000 performed each month in the U.S. in the first half of 2025, which is up from 95,000 per month in 2024, primarily due to the ease of access of abortion pills.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
