NYC Health Department Continues to Protect Reproductive Health

NYC Health Department Continues to Protect Reproductive Health

53 Years After Roe v. Wade, the New York City Health Department Highlights Continued Efforts to Promote Access to Abortion Care

Health Department Hotline Has Connected 12,000 People to Local Resources and Services, and Health Department Clinics Saw a 24% Increase in Medication Abortions

January 22, 2026 - On the anniversary of the decision establishing the right to abortion in Roe v. Wade and as evidence-based health care remains under threat, the New York City Health Department is highlighting continued efforts to promote access to reproductive health care in New York City.

In 2025, the agency expanded medication abortion services to the Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic - the fourth clinic providing no-cost medication abortion - and expanded services to include on-site testing to screen for anemia. The City also took steps to adjust reporting requirements to align with New York State and further protect patient privacy.

"In New York City we will work every day to ensure all people have the reproductive health care that they need, especially as access to that care gets limited across the country," said Dr. Helen Arteaga, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. "Abortion is fundamental to New Yorkers' freedom to choose and live healthy lives."

"Abortion is health care and New York City is a proud leader in ensuring zero barrier access" said New York City Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. "With abortion bans eliminating all or some access to abortion in 20 states, New York City will continue to invest in high-quality abortion care at our public health clinics and connect people to care through the NYC Abortion Hub that best fits their needs."

The city's Sexual Health Clinics provided 1,253 patients with abortion care in 2025, a 24% increase from 2024. In addition to medication abortion, the clinics offer contraception counseling and birth control, Pap smears, and STI testing and treatment, regardless of immigration or insurance status or ability to pay.

Following the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that overturned the long-standing federal protections for abortion, the NYC Health Department launched the Abortion Access Hub, a free, confidential hotline that connects callers to licensed providers in New York City and ensures connections to resources that meet the caller's unique needs.

Since launching in November 2022, the Abortion Access Hub has served more than 12,000 individuals. Of those, 83% of calls from outside New York State were from states where abortion has been banned or restricted, including Florida, Texas, and Georgia. A majority of callers are from New York City, highlighting the continued need for and challenges to access even in protected municipalities.

Navigators connect anyone seeking care in New York City to more than 40 clinical sites including NYC Health + Hospitals, NYC Health Department Sexual Health Clinics, private hospitals, independent providers, and telehealth sites. The hotline also connects patients to organizations that can help secure financial assistance and assist with logistics including lodging and transportation.

As part of ongoing collaborations around best practices and efforts to encourage New Yorkers to be informed patients, the Health Department released a Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Bill of Rights in 2024.

Anyone seeking abortion services in New York City can call 877-NYC-AHUB (877-692-2482) Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or visit nyc.gov/abortion for more information. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

###

003-26

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]