You've indicated a patient age under 18. There are a few additional requirements and steps for minors to receive abortion care in Virginia -- in that they need consent from a parent/guardian or permission from a judge to bypass parental consent.
Please read through our Information for Minor Patients section for proper forms and details to make sure there are no obstacles in receiving abortion care. One of our health education staff can also help walk you through the process; please feel free to call 703-532-2500 and ask to speak with a health educator.
A medical abortion is a safe and effective method for an abortion up to 9 weeks.
At Falls Church Healthcare we use a combination of 2 medications to end a pregnancy: Mifepristone and Misoprostol
Completing the medical abortion procedure itself only takes 5-10 minutes. However, you should expect to be in our center for your appointments up to 4 hours; which includes registration, paperwork, lab services, procedure review and your actual abortioncare appointment.
You will have an opportunity to meet with your health educator to discuss the procedure and your feelings and concerns prior to this appointment. Our staff is here to support and help both patients and those who are with you in this experience.
At Our Office: You will swallow the first pill Mifepristone (also known as ‘the abortion pill’). It is not unusual to have some spotting or even bleeding after the first medication but the procedure is not yet complete.
At Home: You will take the Misoprostol tablets, which are taken orally, helping the uterus to contract and empty. You will take these pills 12 to 48 hours later, considering your clinician’s recommendations and your personal schedule. After you take the Misoprostol you will have bleeding and strong cramping that may be severe, dramatic or simply similar to one of your “bad” periods. This may last a few hours.
Aftercare: Plan to follow up by phone in 2 to 3 weeks. It is very important for patients to have a follow-up examination especially if pregnancy symptoms have not decreased.
There are options for your follow-up assessment to verify you have successfully expelled your pregnancy tissue completely which we can review with you.
Additional Information on Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion):
A procedural abortion, also known as aspiration abortion, is usually administered by a method called vacuum aspiration. The procedure itself usually takes only five to ten minutes, and is a common in-office gynecology service.
While the procedure itself last only minutes, additional time is needed for registration, paperwork, lab services and recovery. Please plan to be in our office for 4-5 hours for you abortioncare appointment.
You will have an opportunity to meet with your health educator to discuss the procedure and your feelings and concerns at your appointment. Our staff is here to support and help both patients and those who are with you in this experience.
You will be assigned a health educator who serves as your advocate to assist you with paperwork, review your appointment and answer your questions. At your appointment your sonogram will be obtained and medical history reviewed, lab work is performed and pre-medications given before you are readied for the procedure. These are important opportunities for you to meet your medical team and to relax.
The abortion procedure will be performed by one of our Board Certified Clinicians. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes and typically is not performed until the embryo is visualized by sonogram, usually after 5-6 weeks gestation.
Please Note: Completing a urine pregnancy test prior to calling will help our nurse in your follow-up assessment.
We encourage and will assist you in exploring various family planning / birth control options.
The privacy standards established by 2003 HIPPA Provisions address the privacy and security of patient data.
The information in this box is submitted to the Division of Vital records, Virginia Department of Health. No identifying information will be submitted.
Using my Insurance: Falls Church Healthcare Center (FCHC), as a service for you, will file your claim for payment of your medical care with your listed Insurance Carrier. Although we rely on your insurance company’s good faith pre-authorizations, verifications, certifications and coverage approvals and their reported co-pay, co-insurance and deductible amounts the claim may still be denied by your insurance company or some services not covered once FCHC files your claim. Your insurance plan is a contract between you and your insurance company. We must hold you responsible for any balances due. If your policy includes a co-insurance, a co-pay or deductible amount, that is determined by your insurance company and collected by FCHC at the time of service. If our office does not hear from your insurance company within 30 days, we may request your help in contacting your insurance company to resolve the payment delay. Please supply your insurance card and a photo I.D. at each office visit.
As of July 1, 2020, Falls Church Healthcare Center accepts the following Insurance Carriers:
Authorization for Release of Information: I authorize Falls Church Healthcare Center to disclose all or any parts of my medical record to my listed insurance company(s) and any review agency which conducts practice utilization review under a HIPPA agreement with patient’s payment source. I also understand that I may revoke this authorization by providing written notice to Falls Church Healthcare Center.
Laboratory Billings: Your services may include laboratory studies required by your insurance company and or requested as a standard of care by your clinician. Your clinician will discuss the recommended additional tests as part of your care. Though the specimens may be collected at FCHC, these studies are NOT conducted at FCHC but sent to and conducted by an independent laboratory. That independent laboratory will file a claim to your insurance company separately. Any unpaid deductibles, co-insurance and copay as well as denials by your insurance company for those laboratory studies will be billed to you separately by the independent laboratory and will be your financial responsibility.
Payment of Services: I understand I am financially responsible for all charges and fees related to the services provided to me by FCHC. I understand that laboratory services if any that are provided by other than FCHC may incur charges separately billed by the laboratory. I further understand that payment in full for any unpaid amount is expected upon receipt of Falls Church Healthcare Center’s first invoice. The invoiced charges may include unpaid co-payments, to be billed co-insurance amounts, unpaid deductibles and any fees for services not covered or denied by your insurance company such as medications and anesthesia. I understand I can request a payment plan to be arranged. I understand that 10% late fees may be attached to unpaid balances. I understand I am financially responsible for any legal fees and collection service fees related to the collection of my overdue outstanding balances.
Assignment of Benefits: I hereby authorize and request that my insurance company(s) make payment for my medical care directly to the Falls Church Healthcare Center or its assigns. In the event an overpayment is made from more than one insurance company, I understand the overpayment will be sent to the appropriate payor.
