House Democrats are calling on five major pharmacy chains to commit to distributing mifepristone in states where it remains legal, following the recent Supreme Court ruling that preserved the drug’s current accessibility.
In letters sent to Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Costco and Health Mart, a group of more than 50 House Democrats – led by Reps. Judy Chu (Calif.) and Dan Goldman (N.Y.) – pressed pharmacies to become certified distributors of mifepristone .
“We are disappointed that you did not publicly seek certification last year,” the Democrats wrote. “We strongly urge you to consider policies that facilitate access to essential and urgent reproductive health services, including medication abortion, that are clear to your consumers and your pharmacy staff.”
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration established a process for retail pharmacies to become certified to dispense mifepristone to patients with valid prescriptions, a first in the two-drug process used in medication abortions.
Goldman and Chu said they contacted the same five pharmacies in June 2023 to offer mifepristone, but the companies did not say whether they planned to seek certification.
Following last month’s Supreme Court ruling that preserved current access to mifepristone, Democrats have urged pharmacies to reconsider.
“This lack of action to certify is misaligned with their publicly stated values in support of equal access to health care and in support of gender equality,” they wrote. “In light of growing attacks on bodily autonomy and people’s freedom to make their own health care decisions, we believe your companies have a social responsibility to consumers and communities to address this issue as quickly as possible.”
Lawmakers are seeking responses from pharmacies by July 12.
Walgreens and CVS are the only two large retail pharmacies that have publicly sought certification, and the companies began selling mifepristone in March in states where it remains legal to do so.
Walgreens, in particular, has received criticism from both sides of the abortion spectrum. The company angered Democrats and abortion rights advocates when it refused to distribute abortion pills in 21 states, including four states where abortion was still legal.
The company has also faced a series of attacks and threats from Republican attorneys general, as well as anti-abortion groups, for selling mifepristone in the first place.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
