Planned Parenthood has launched a digital tool called the Abortion Care Finder that aims to help individuals locate the nearest health centers that provide abortions, CNET reports. The directory is intended to direct users to safe and legal options based on their needs and state.
The Abortion Care Finder is available on both mobile and desktop. Users can input information regarding their age, zip code, and how far along they are in their pregnancy. The directory tool then provides users with their healthcare options, including the nearest Planned Parenthood or other independent healthcare providers. The tool takes state laws into account to provide information like gestational limits, whether or not parental consent is needed, or if the procedure will require multiple trips.
It’s not Planned Parenthood’s first digital tool for care. In September, Planned Parenthood Direct was launched in 27 states, and there are plans to expand it nationwide by 2020. Users can use the app to request birth control, Planned Parenthood appointments, and get a prescription for urinary tract infections.
The new tools are intended to help individuals navigate the mounting regulations on abortion. Nine states have passed strict legislation on abortion laws. Most controversial was Alabama, which planned to ban individuals from receiving an abortion unless their health was at risk. In total, 43 states prohibit abortions after a specific point in the pregnancy, and some require mandatory counseling or parental involvement for minors.
Correction: Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Care Finder is a digital directory tool available on desktop and mobile. It is not a standalone app.
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H/T CNET
