New York legislators are investing $495,000 to expand the NYC Abortion Access Hub, increasing its ability to connect people seeking abortion care with providers and support services across the state.
The funding, announced on June 24, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, will allow the Hub to broaden its referral network beyond New York City's five boroughs. The initiative is a partnership between the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the New York State Department of Health.
The expansion will help callers access a wider network of abortion providers and organizations that offer transportation, lodging and financial assistance related to care. The state's annual contribution of $220,000 will support coordination with providers and support organizations throughout New York.
“Four years ago, the disastrous Dobbs decision stripped away a fundamental right and put reproductive health care out of reach for millions of Americans across this country,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Since then, New York has led the fight to protect abortion care. On this anniversary, we are expanding the successful Abortion Access Hub so that anyone seeking care can more easily find it. Together with New York State, we are strengthening a lifeline that connects people to abortion care, medication, transportation, lodging and support. Because abortion is health care. And health care is a human right.”
The NYC Abortion Access Hub was launched following the 2022 Dobbs ruling, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and allowed states to impose restrictions or bans. Since its launch, the confidential hotline has responded to more than 10,400 calls and nearly 5,000 live chat messages.
More than half of callers sought medication abortion care, while about one-quarter of contacts came from outside New York state. Among those callers, the largest shares were from Florida, Texas and Georgia, where abortion access is heavily restricted.
In addition to referrals to independent providers, the Hub connects callers with NYC Sexual Health Clinics, which offer no-cost medication abortion, contraception and pregnancy testing at four locations. More than 60% of patients receive same-day care, and services are available regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.
The new city-state partnership will expand referral options and provider connections statewide. The initiative builds on broader efforts to maintain access to abortion care, including a $10.7 million state grant awarded to NYC Health + Hospitals in 2025 to support abortion services across its 11 hospitals.
