Walgreens Says It Won’t Offer the Abortion Pill Mifepristone in Conservative States

Just a few weeks after Republican attorneys normal in 21 states despatched letters threatening authorized motion in opposition to retail pharmacy chains in the event that they disbursed the abortion tablet mifepristone, Walgreens stated it will not distribute the tablet in these states.

In January, after the Meals and Drug Administration stated it will permit retail pharmacies to develop into licensed to dispense mifepristone — the tightly regulated treatment that’s the first tablet within the two-drug treatment abortion routine — Walgreens, CVS and different pharmacies stated they deliberate to take action in states the place abortion was authorized. The American Pharmacists Affiliation stated that pharmacies can be very cautious about shelling out in any state the place they may danger shedding their license or face different penalties.

The choice this week by Walgreens displays that warning. In 4 of the states — Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana — abortion is technically nonetheless authorized, however there are efforts to limit it that may apply to abortion drugs.

“This can be a very complicated and in flux space of the regulation, and we’re taking that into consideration as we search certification,” stated a spokesman for Walgreens, Fraser Engerman.

He stated that Walgreens instructed 20 attorneys normal, who had collectively signed one letter, and the legal professional normal of Kansas, who despatched a separate letter, that it will not be distributing mifepristone of their states.

The choice doesn’t have an effect on the second tablet within the treatment abortion routine, misoprostol, which is used for a number of medical circumstances and has lengthy been obtainable by prescription at retail pharmacies nationwide.

A spokesman for CVS didn’t instantly reply to a query about whether or not the corporate had additionally determined to not dispense mifepristone in these 21 states, however in January, a spokeswoman stated, “We plan to hunt certification to dispense mifepristone the place legally permissible.”

Politico reported the Walgreens choice on Thursday evening. The chain’s choice to not dispense drugs in Kansas was introduced final month.