Telehealth: an opportunity to increase access to early medical abortion for Australian women

Mazza, Danielle; Deb, Seema; Subasinghe, Asvini K

doi:10.5694/mja2.50782

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…An alternative approach has been facilitated by improved access to telehealth services. The introduction of MBS telehealth item numbers as part of the federal response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has meant that telehealth early medical abortion services are now covered by Medicare for eligible patients 28 . One services provider reported a 30% increase in the number of early medical abortions provided via telehealth, an 8% increase in the number of regional clients, and a 20% increase in the number of remote clients during 2020 5…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early medical abortion services provided in Australian primary care

Subasinghe

McGeechan

Moulton

et al. 2021

Medical Journal of Australia

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Objectives To examine primary care provision of early medical abortion services in Australia. Design Cross‐sectional study; analysis of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing data. Setting, participants Women of child‐bearing age (15–54 years), Australia, 2015–2019. Main outcome measures Age‐standardised rates of MS‐2 Step prescriptions dispensed by year for 2015–2019, and age‐standardised rates by state, remoteness area, and level 3 statistical areas (SA3s) for 2019. Numbers and proportions of SA3s in which MS‐2 Step was not prescribed by a GP or dispensed by a community pharmacy during 2019 (unweighted and weighted by number of women of reproductive age), by state and remoteness area. Results During 2015–2019, 91 643 PBS prescriptions for MS‐2 Step were dispensed; the national age‐standardised rate increased from 1.63 in 2015 to 3.79 prescriptions per 1000 women aged 15–54 years in 2019. In 2019, rates were higher in outer regional Australia (6.53 prescriptions per 1000 women aged 15–54 years) and remote Australia (6.02 per 1000) than in major cities (3.30 per 1000). However, about 30% of women in Australia lived in SA3s in which MS‐2 Step had not been prescribed by a GP during 2019, including about 50% of those in remote Australia. Conclusions The rate of early medical abortion is greater among women in remote, outer regional, and inner regional Australia than in major cities, but a considerable proportion of women live in areas in which MS‐2 Step was not locally prescribed or dispensed during 2019. Supporting GPs in the delivery of early medical abortion services locally should be a focus of health policy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early medical abortion services provided in Australian primary care

Subasinghe

McGeechan

Moulton

et al. 2021

Medical Journal of Australia

Self Cite

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“…Telehealth for FP services has been widely adopted across the globe, including in the US, Canada, UK, France, Australia, Scandinavia, China, South Africa, and Nepal. In some countries, temporary changes in provision of government-funded telehealth have been extended, with ongoing advocacy for permanent change [9]. In the US, however, telabortion is illegal in eighteen states and mifepristone administration has long been restricted with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy requiring in-person distribution.…”

Section: Access To Family Planning Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family planning services

Stanton

Bateson

2021

Current Opinion in Obstetrics &Amp; Gynecology

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Purpose of review The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing healthcare disparities worldwide and has challenged access to family planning (FP) services. Recent findings Research has identified ways in which government regulations and healthcare programs have inhibited or increased access to FP services, as well as how the pandemic has changed individuals’ sexual and reproductive health behaviors and intentions. Summary The pandemic has had both positive and negative effects on access to FP services. Innovations in various delivery services, extended use of contraception, telehealth for medication abortion, and a no-test medication abortion protocol have decreased the need for in-person visits and improved access to FP services.

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“…Telehealth was the most widely reported PCI and digital health response to the COVID-19 in Australia [ 10 , 17 , 22 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 34 , [39] , [40] , [41] , 43 , 44 ]. Before the pandemic, telehealth funding by the Government was restricted to general practice, mental health, and a few other specialities.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased access to telehealth-delivered preventive care and health promotion counselling is essential [ 39 ]. With increasing use, equity and access issues in telehealth utilisation were observed, for example, challenges for women accessing early medical abortion services through MBS telehealth services [ 34 , 39 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%