Two major pharmacy chains will begin dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone within the month in some states — potentially making it easier for some patients to access the drug.
Both Walgreens and CVS have now received certification to dispense mifepristone, the companies confirmed to ABC News.
Both pharmacies plan to start providing the pill in a select number of states first, and gradually expand to others where it’s legal.
Walgreens expects to begin dispensing the drug “within a week,” the company told ABC News. It will start providing the pill in a small number of its pharmacies in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California and Illinois.
As far as potential expansion, Walgreens is keeping an eye on Kansas, Montana and Wyoming.
The company says it will not be dispensing in states where the laws are unclear, and where a legal gray area could put their pharmacists and staff members at greater risk.
In this Oct. 18, 2023 file photo, a Box of Mifepristone pills is shown at a pharmacy in Tehatta, India.
Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images, FILE
Walgreens was certified by Danco Labs, the brand name manufacturer. The chain also intends to seek certification from the generic manufacturer GenBioPro in the future.
CVS says it plans to begin dispensing “in the weeks ahead” in states where it’s legal and is “working with manufacturers and suppliers to secure the medication and are not yet dispensing it in any of our pharmacies.”
The chain will begin filling prescriptions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and will “expand to additional states, where allowed by law, on a rolling basis.”
The announcements by the two pharmacy chains come after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued new rules in January 2023 allowing the sale of mifepristone by retail pharmacies. Walgreens began the process to become a certified pharmacy to give out the drug following the ruling.
Those rules are now part of an upcoming case before the U.S. Supreme Court, in which an anti-abortion rights group is arguing the FDA went too far and that the medication is dangerous. The FDA and mainstream medical groups say there is no evidence that the medication is dangerous.
In a statement on Friday, President Joe Biden called the move an “important milestone” in ensuring access to the drug.
“With major retail pharmacy chains newly certified to dispense medication abortion, many women will soon have the option to pick up their prescription at a local, certified pharmacy—just as they would for any other medication. I encourage all pharmacies that want to pursue this option to seek certification,” Biden said in the statement.
CVS and Walgreens, two of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States, have announced that they will begin offering the abortion pill, mifepristone, in select states. This decision comes as a significant development in the ongoing debate over access to reproductive healthcare in the country.
Mifepristone, also known as the abortion pill or RU-486, is a medication that can be used to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation. It works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for maintaining a pregnancy. When taken in combination with another medication called misoprostol, mifepristone can effectively induce a miscarriage.
The availability of mifepristone at CVS and Walgreens pharmacies is a major step forward in expanding access to safe and legal abortion care. Currently, mifepristone can only be prescribed by a healthcare provider who has completed a special training program and obtained a certification from the drug’s manufacturer. By making the medication available at their pharmacies, CVS and Walgreens are helping to eliminate some of the barriers that can prevent individuals from accessing this important form of healthcare.
It is important to note that not all CVS and Walgreens locations will be offering mifepristone. The availability of the medication will depend on state laws and regulations governing the provision of abortion care. As of now, CVS has announced that it will be offering mifepristone in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Walgreens has not yet disclosed which states will have access to the medication at their pharmacies.
The decision by CVS and Walgreens to offer mifepristone reflects a growing recognition of the importance of reproductive healthcare access for all individuals. In recent years, there has been a wave of restrictive abortion laws passed in various states across the country, making it increasingly difficult for people to access safe and legal abortion care. By expanding access to mifepristone, CVS and Walgreens are helping to ensure that individuals have more options when it comes to making decisions about their reproductive health.
Overall, the availability of mifepristone at CVS and Walgreens pharmacies is a positive development for individuals seeking abortion care. By offering this medication in select states, these pharmacy chains are helping to increase access to safe and legal abortion services, ultimately empowering individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health.
