New Jersey Becomes a Rising Regional Hub for Abortion Care

New Jersey has become an increasingly important access point for abortion care in the years following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, though disparities in availability remain throughout the state, according to Rutgers Health researchers. 

Their report, Abortion Needs and Availability in New Jersey: 2025 Update, builds on a 2023 analysis that identified strategies to expand access and evaluates progress using a systematic scan of providers alongside data from national research organizations.

Researchers with the Rutgers School of Public Health, in partnership with the New Jersey Family Planning League, found that abortion care in New Jersey has increased sharply, with overall numbers rising 25% since 2020 and more than 3,000 patients traveling from other states for services. The growth has been driven largely by telehealth expansion and expanded use of medication abortion, along with targeted increases in clinic capacity.

“What we document in this update is not just growth in abortion provision, but a diversification in how care is delivered,” said Laura D. Lindberg, a professor at the School of Public Health and director of the online master of public health degree in sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice. “Together, these shifts have increased access for many patients, even as geographic and service gaps persist.”

In the report, the researchers conclude that while policy protections and provider expansion have strengthened access, inequities remain. Some regions in New Jersey continue to face limited service availability, and researchers note that sustained investment and targeted strategies will be needed to ensure equitable care statewide.

“This research gave us a chance to track the progress, and the enduring barriers to abortion care in New Jersey,” said Laura Frye, a doctoral student at the School of Public Health and co-author of the report. 

Leaders from the New Jersey Family Planning League, a nonprofit group that collaborated on the report, said the findings highlight both progress and urgency.

“The surge in abortion provision demonstrates the enormous need for accessible care,” said Jenifer Groves, the organization’s president and chief executive. “However, this report is also a call to action to address geographic disparities and ensure sufficient support for complex care.”

Frye added, “The partnership between Rutgers School of Public Health and the New Jersey Family Planning League is a great opportunity to apply my research skills in a way that helps the New Jersey community.”