Facility Type Does Not Affect Abortion Safety

Thirteen states currently limit abortion provision to certified ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) with specific structural criteria. To assess the safety of abortions performed in clinics versus ASCs, researchers analyzed claims data from >50,000 induced abortions performed for privately insured women from 2011 through 2014. Most (89%) abortions were provided in office-based settings, primarily (84%) during the first trimester; some 13,500 procedures were medication abortions.

Rates of abortion-related morbidities and adverse events did not differ significantly, regardless of whether procedures were performed in an ASC or an office-based setting. However, medication abortion provided in an office was less likely to result in an adverse event…