Have SC’s abortion numbers changed after heartbeat bill? Here’s what the data says
A state representative claimed during last week’s budget debate that South Carolina hasn’t seen a “significant change” in abortions since the heartbeat bill was upheld by the state’s Supreme Court.
But a review of provisional data from the Department of Health and Environmental Control, which keeps track of abortion data, showed a 78% drop in abortions in South Carolina the month after the state’s all male Supreme Court ruled the Legislature’s second version of the heartbeat bill was constitutional.
That didn’t stop a discussion between two conservative House Freedom Caucus members during the House budget debate when the group tried to stop the state from accepting $31.4 million federal family planning money.
“I think this is something that is important to us in the room who value the lives of the pre-born,” said state Rep. Josiah Magnuson, R-Spartanburg.
“We should not do business with that which is evil, that which is promoting the darkness, that is what abortion absolutely is,” Magnuson as he presented an amendment to prevent the state from accepting federal money for family planning.
Even though organizations such as Planned Parenthood are not allowed to use federal money to provide abortions except in the case of rape, incest or to protect the health and life of the mother, abortion opponents say money is fungible and the federal dollars allow the organizations that provide abortion to free up other cash for the procedure.
Planned Parenthood performs other services in addition to abortion and says most of its health care services is paid for with donor money.
A claim of ‘no significant change’
Last year the state Supreme Court upheld the state’s abortion ban, which prohibits an abortion after a heartbeat is detected usually around the six-week mark, a point at which most women don’t know they’re pregnant. The law includes exceptions for rape, incest, a baby with fatal fetal anomalies or to protect the health and life of the mother.
During last week’sHouse budget debate, Magnuson and state Rep. Jay Kilmartin, R-Lexington, spoke about a visit to demonstrators outside of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia.
Kilmartin said he personally knew the “sidewalk counselors” with A Moment of Hope who stand outside of Planned Parenthood on days the provider performs abortion. A Moment of Hope provides counseling for other options and has an RV that can provide ultrasounds.
“What I’m told from some of those personal friends of mine is it’s business as usual since we passed the six-week abortion ban. They haven’t seen any significant change in abortions in South Carolina,” Kilmartin said.
“Do you think that was the intent of the six-week abortion ban to save lives because it’s not happening currently and we were all being applauded by our constituents for that bill,” Kilmartin added on the State House floor.
Kilmartin estimates 90% of the women going inside the clinic on those days are there for an abortion and the group counts on average 30 vehicles a day at the facility when abortions are performed both before and after the six-week law was upheld.
“I’m going by the Planned Parenthood in Columbia and it’s actually, I don’t know if it’s me or not, but it seems like it’s busier than usual, there are so many more Planned Parenthood volunteers out there, so it’s actually kind of chaotic,” Kilmartin said.
What does the data say?
Despite those estimates, according to provisional data obtained by The State newspaper, the number of abortions performed per month has dropped since the state Supreme Court in August upheld the latest version of the fetal heartbeat bill.
According to provisional data, more abortions were performed in South Carolina in 2023 than 2022, but the state’s previous 20-week law was in place for eight months and out-of-state travelers were coming to the Palmetto State as an unlikely abortion destination.
In August 2023, 748 abortions were performed in South Carolina. That month the state Supreme Court ruled the six week abortion ban was constitutional and can be enforced after it was on hold for three months. In September 2023, only 161 abortions were performed in the state, a 78% drop month to month.
In October, 201 abortions were performed, 177 abortions in November and 207 in December.
In September 2022, 784 abortions were performed in South Carolina; 755 were performed in October 2022; 823 in in November 2022; and 851 in December 2022.
The last set of numbers released by DHEC is provisional data given to lawmakers at their request. However the numbers have yet to be finalized and verified and included in an annual report. Data for 2024 is not available.
Vicki Ringer, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic says it’s “extremely disturbing” a Moment of Hope will count vehicles and said the 90% estimate is just a guess by the group.
Planned Parenthood does more than just perform abortions at clinics. Planned Parenthood performs prenatal and postnatal care, STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, birth control, and wellness and preventative care among other services.
Even though women may not be able to get an abortion, when they go to Planned Parenthood they will still come to have an ultrasound to see how far along they are and Planned Parenthood can send them to North Carolina. North Carolina bans abortions after the 12-week mark of a pregnancy.
“At early stages of pregnancy you can’t tell somebody is pregnant, so they have no idea. Somebody could be dropping by to pick up a prescription for a birth control refill, there’s so many reasons somebody comes to our health center,” Ringer said.
