The Supreme Court is hearing arguments regarding the FDA's recent actions to make the abortion pill mifepristone more accessible, with potential implications for abortion access nationwide. The case involves challenges to the FDA's 2016 and 2021 changes, which allowed for easier access to the medication. The court's decision, expected by the end of June, could impact access to mifepristone and medication abortions across the country.
CVS and Walgreens, two major US pharmacy chains, will begin selling the abortion pill mifepristone on prescription at stores in several states, with CVS starting in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Walgreens in California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. President Joe Biden praised the decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to the pill. The move comes amid ongoing legal battles over abortion access in the US, with the Supreme Court set to hear a case about abortion medication that could further challenge access to mifepristone.
The first data on births since the overturning of Roe v. Wade reveals that abortion bans have led to an increase in births in every state with a ban. Researchers estimate that these laws have resulted in around 32,000 additional annual births, with one-fifth to one-fourth of women in ban states who may have sought an abortion carrying their pregnancies to term. The analysis also shows that the increase in births disproportionately affects women in their 20s, Black and Hispanic women, and those living in states with limited access to abortion clinics. The availability of online abortion pills from overseas vendors has played a role in some states. However, the data is preliminary, and further research is needed to fully understand the impact of the Dobbs decision on the fertility rate.
An analysis of birth data from states with abortion bans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade shows that births increased in every state with a ban, indicating that the bans have had their intended effect. Researchers estimate that the bans caused around 32,000 annual births, with one-fifth to one-fourth of women in ban states not obtaining abortions. The increase in births was disproportionately among women in their 20s and Black and Hispanic women, who may face greater barriers to travel. The availability of online abortion pills and the opening of new clinics in legal states have likely contributed to the steady or slightly increased number of legal abortions nationwide.
Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) outnumber abortion providers in Illinois by nearly three to one, according to an analysis by WBEZ. The state has 42 counties with CPCs but no in-person abortion providers, while only 12 counties have abortion providers. CPCs, often run by anti-abortion or religious organizations, offer pregnancy-related services but do not provide or refer patients for abortions. Critics accuse CPCs of using misinformation to dissuade patients from seeking abortions. In July, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a law allowing lawsuits against CPCs for deceptive practices, but a federal judge has temporarily halted its enforcement. The disparity in access to abortion care highlights the need for comprehensive reproductive healthcare services in local communities.
A federal judge has allowed North Carolina's 12-week abortion ban to take effect, undercutting access to abortion across the South. The law also adds an in-person visit requirement to its 72-hour waiting period, making it more difficult for people from other states to travel to North Carolina for an abortion. The ban means clinics cannot provide care to patients who learn they are pregnant later on or who require more time to gather the resources to travel for an abortion. This law will have significant impacts across the South, where several states have near-total abortion bans or restrictions.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill prohibiting abortion pills in the state, while allowing a separate measure restricting abortion to become law without his signature. The ban on abortion pills would take effect in July, pending any legal action that could potentially delay it. The implementation date of the sweeping legislation banning all abortions that Gordon allowed to go into law is not specified in the bill. The issue of access to abortion pills took center stage this week in a Texas court, where a federal judge raised questions about a Christian group's effort to overturn the decades-old U.S. approval of a leading abortion drug, mifepristone.
