Illinois Planned Parenthood offering abortion medicine through app

CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is expanding abortion care by offering medication through its app.

PPIL is providing more options, which includes offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app. Currently, PPIL provides the following through PPDirect:

• Birth control
• UTI treatment
• At-home STI testing
• Emergency contraception

By adding this medication to the services, PPIL is looking to expand access, reduce wait times at health centers, avoid unnecessary travel and provide proper care to patients no matter where they live across the state.

“As PPIL is facing financial difficulties and an uncertain future because of the current administration, we are doing what we can to expand care and meet our patients where they are,” said Tonya Tucker, Interim President and CEO of PPIL. “Offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app allows patients to connect with us through their phone and removes the barrier of having to visit a health center.”

Those who use the app will fill out a questionnaire that is reviewed by a PPIL medical professional. The organization then mails out the abortion pills to the patients at their home address within 1-2 days.

Additionally, patients can receive follow up care at a PPIL health center, if need be, and they are able to schedule appointments through the app. Abortion medication through PPDirect is $200, which includes shipping.

“Medication abortion accounts for half of the abortions PPIL provides,” said Dr. Virgil Reid, Interim Chief Medical Officer. “Offering it through PPDirect makes it easier for patients to access care from where they are. Patients will receive the same trusted service they associate with PPIL and we are there to answer any questions or schedule an in-person appointment if needed.”

Abortion medication that uses mifepristone is safe according to PPIL. Mifepristone is a steroid that was approved by the FDA over 20 years ago and has been used by more than five million people since.

The organization still offers the following at its physical locations across Illinois and through telehealth:

• Medication and procedural abortion
• Birth control
• Gender-affirming care
• STI testing and treatment
• Cancer screenings

For additional information, visit ppil.org.