Abortion pill which can be picked up from pharmacy, via mail, now available in Washington
A significant step forward in making medication abortion pills accessible to a broader range of individuals was taken on Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Mifepristone, a pill designed to end a pregnancy within the first 10 weeks of gestation, can now be picked up in person at pharmacies and even sent in the mail. The FDA has approved mifepristone since 2000, but before Tuesday’s announcement, it could only be dispensed by specially-certified doctors or clinics.
The FDA lifted some of the restrictions on the drug’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy — the guideline for how a drug can be distributed — allowing doctors to prescribe the drug via telehealth visits and having the patient pick it up via mail or any nearby pharmacy that agrees to accept the prescription.
The FDA announced it would make the change in mid-December, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray has applauded its confirmation. Murray (D-WA) is chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
“In the midst of the reproductive health care crisis Republicans have caused, this is an especially important step that will make it easier for patients to get abortion care through medication abortion,” Murray said in a news release.
“We know medication abortion is safe, effective, and a more important option for patients than ever,” she continued, “and I am glad to see the experts at FDA are lifting unnecessary restrictions so that more women can get the care they need at their local pharmacy.”
Washington is one of 16 states with laws fully protecting the right to abortion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, which made it a constitutional right to have an abortion, 12 states have put a total ban on abortion, including Washington’s neighbor, Idaho.
Murray has been part of a group of senators fighting for regulations to be lifted on Mifepristone since early 2020. Initially, the push to make Mifepristone more easily available was because of the fear of unnecessary coronavirus exposure.
Murray was also integral, alongside then-Senator Hillary Clinton, in pushing the FDA to make the contraceptive Plan B available at pharmacies over-the-counter.
“Patients shouldn’t be forced to jump through unnecessary extra hoops, take time off work, travel far away, or face harassment just to fill a prescription that is safe to take from home,” Murray stated following Tuesday’s announcement on Mifepristone. “It really is that simple.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2023 at 6:47 AM with the headline "Abortion pill which can be picked up from pharmacy, via mail, now available in Washington."
