USA: Provider practice models for and costs of delivering medical abortion

This study provides descriptive data on the diverse medication abortion practice models currently being utilised by US health care providers and the costs associated with the components of those models.

The authors explain that understanding practice models and provider costs for medication abortion provision may elucidate ways to facilitate its integration into a larger arena of health care services. 

Data were gathered from a sample of 11 abortion care settings, using clinic administrative records and patient satisfaction surveys. Practice models varied dramatically, with a wide range in the type of staff employed to provide medication abortion. The total episode cost for providing medication abortion ranged from 252 to 460 US Dollars, and patient satisfaction was high across all practices.

The authors concluded that information from this study can be used to guide decisions regarding MAB integration into practices not currently providing abortion or which provide only aspiration abortions. The information may also be useful for providers wishing to refine their medication abortion services.

University of California, San Francisco and Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) program, Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Provider practice models for and costs of delivering medication abortion - evidence from 11 US abortion care settings. Afable-Munsuz A, Gould H, Stewart F, Phillips KA, Van Bebber SL, Moore C. Contraception. 2007 Jan;75(1):45-51. Epub 2006 Nov 14.