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(Iowa) -- This week marks one year since Iowa's 6-week abortion ban went into effect.
Iowa's fetal heartbeat bill now bans abortions after 6 weeks, with narrow exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, and to save the life of the mother. Iowa's previous law banned abortions after 20 weeks.
"At Planned Parenthood, we saw a 74% decrease in the number of abortions we were providing in Iowa, but we also saw a 182% increase in the number of Iowa patients that were traveling to our Nebraska and Minnesota health centers to access abortion care. So the care is still happening, but Iowans are having to cross state lines to get it," said Erin Heisler Wagner, with Planned Parenthood North Central States.
Governor Kim Reynolds posted on social media celebrating the one-year anniversary of the 6-week law, calling the bill "a powerful victory for life."
Iowa Right to Life wants more abortion restrictions.
"Because with surgical abortions, Planned Parenthoods closing, we still know that chemical abortion is largely in part how abortions are performed in the state of Iowa," said Kristi Judkins, Iowa Right to Life.
The medication commonly known as "the abortion pill" is a combination of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The FDA has approved the abortion pill by mail for all 50 states, including Iowa.
While Iowa's law doesn't ban access to the abortion pill completely, it is still regulated.
Planned Parenthood locations across Iowa have closed over the past year, leaving only two locations fully operational: one in Des Moines and one in Iowa City.
Wagner says that while physical locations have closed, virtual care options are still available; however, no abortion services can be provided through virtual care due to state law.