New state report shows abortions hit a 14-year high in Florida, despite 15-week ban

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Abortions are on the rise in Florida reaching a 14-year-high and people coming in from other states seeking the procedure seems to be driving the increase.

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That’s according to new statistics from the Agency for Health Care Administration.

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According to the report, there were more than 82,000 abortions in Florida in 2022.

That’s the highest number of procedures in a single year, since 2008.

The numbers reflect a three percent increase since 2021 and a 10 percent increase over 2020.

Out-of-state abortions saw a more dramatic rise, increasing by 38 percent compared to 2021.

“Florida has in fact become an abortion destination state,” Andrew Shirvell with Florida Voice for the Unborn said.

Read: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 15-week abortion ban into law

Shrivell said not only are more people from out of state traveling to Florida to obtain abortions, the procedures are also happening later into pregnancies.

2nd trimester abortions spiked 46 percent between 2021 and 2022.

“The predictions about the 15-week abortion ban dramatically lowering the rate of abortions in Florida just simply didn’t occur,” Shirvell said.

Amber Gavin with Jacksonville-based abortion clinic, A Woman’s Choice, isn’t surprised by the stats.

She said with states surrounding Florida adopting near or all-out abortion bans, more women are seeking procedures in Florida.

“However, Florida doesn’t really make it easy to access to care either,” Gavin said.

Gavin explained the logistics of traveling coupled with Florida’s 24-hour delay law has resulted in procedures being pushed later into pregnancies.

Read: Florida Supreme Court vacates motion to block 15-week abortion ban due to error

“You have to wait longer to get your appointment, which means that you are later in pregnancy,” Gavin said.

Shirvell sees the stats as a sign lawmakers should act ahead of the Florida Supreme Court ruling on the 15-week law.

He wants to see a trigger law to outright ban abortion passed that would immediately take effect if the court greenlights the current 15-week law.

“There’s no reason for the Governor or for our legislature to delay action any further. This is a huge crisis situation,” Shirvell said.

Gavin is not surprised by the reaction, but argues 2022′s stats show more restrictions won’t stop abortions, they’ll just make it harder for women to obtain them.

“Banning it doesn’t mean that people won’t need abortion care. It just means that they’ll just go somewhere else,” Gavin said.

Action News Jax reached out to Governor Ron DeSantis’ office and the office of Florida House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) for reaction to the new report.

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Both have expressed interest in passing further abortion restrictions, but neither responded to our inquires Thursday.