Washington sees ripple effects of Dobbs decision as Idaho patients seek abortion care

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a 2024 report from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office reveals the decision caused ripple effects across Washington’s health care system. While abortion is protected in Washington, the 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization triggered an abortion ban in Idaho, causing some patients to seek care elsewhere. In 2023, Cantwell, D-Wash., released a snapshot that showed a 56 percent increase in patients from Idaho seeking abortion services in Washington. On June 24, the two-year anniversary of the Dobbs...