Retail pharmacies and healthcare providers are evaluating next steps following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to expand access to the abortion drug mifepristone.
The FDA finalized a rule change on Tuesday that would allow more pharmacies, including large chains and mail-order companies, to dispense drugs if they go through the certification process. In February 2022, the Biden administration permanently ended the requirement for women to come in to receive abortion pills in person, after suspending the regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing women to receive prescriptions through meetings. remote medical appointment.
CVS Health and Walgreens are determining how to navigate the FDA’s rule change.
A CVS spokesperson said: “We are reviewing the FDA’s updated Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program for mifepristone to determine dispensing requirements in these areas. The state does not restrict the dispensing of drugs prescribed for elective termination of pregnancy.
Walgreens also emphasizes that it will be consistent with state and federal law.
Walmart Inc., did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The FDA’s decision is likely to receive opposition from Republican-led states that restrict abortion and related drugs. Thirteen states have full abortion bans in effect, plus a six-week ban in Georgia, according to one report. New York Times report. In June, the US Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights by overturning Roe v. Wade.
In 2000, the FDA approved mifepristone to terminate pregnancies up to 10 weeks when used with misoprostol, a second drug taken one to two days later. The FDA estimates that 3.7 million women have used mifepristone since its approval. More than half of abortions in the US are now performed with medication instead of surgery.
“There is no clinical evidence that directly dispensing the drug improves the safety of this drug or patient outcomes,” said Dr. , and instead, the patient is unnecessarily limited access to a safe and effective drug”. Gynecologist, said in a statement. “While today’s FDA announcement will not solve access issues for everyone wanting abortion care, it will allow more options for many patients who need mifepristone for a medical abortion. to secure this important drug.”
Also on Tuesday, the Justice Department ruled that the U.S. Postal Service could continue to deliver mifepristone and misoprostol despite restrictions in certain jurisdictions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
