Washington
Washington pharmacists prescribe abortion pills through new pilot program • Oklahoma Voice
A Washington state-based nonprofit has launched a program training pharmacists to prescribe abortion medications via telehealth, a model that organizers hope other states will adopt to expand abortion access.
Abortion is broadly legal in Washington state up to the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered to be between 24 and 26 weeks of pregnancy. But Dr. Beth Rivin, president and CEO of nonprofit Uplift International, said there are still many individuals who face barriers to abortion access in Washington because of where they live, how much money they make and other factors. Those people can benefit most from having access to telehealth, Rivin said, and having pharmacists available helps increase that availability.
The nonprofit partnered with an online pharmacy called Honeybee Health to launch what they’re calling the Pharmacist Abortion Access Project. Ten pharmacists were recruited and trained to prescribe mifepristone and misoprostol, the standard U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medication abortion regimen, to patients in Washington up to 10 weeks’ gestation.
Rivin said the team created its training protocol with Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington. The program also has a list of clinics where patients can be referred if any in-person follow-up care is necessary, including ultrasounds, blood tests or other exams.
“If (patients) had questions, the platform allowed for messaging between the pharmacist and the individual, and patients were followed up with at one week and four to five weeks after prescriptions were written,” Rivin said.
Over the past two years, anti-abortion groups have increasingly called for more state legislation targeting abortion drugs, alleging telemedicine for abortion pills is dangerous to a pregnant person’s health. Research has repeatedly shown that telehealth prescriptions are just as safe as in-person treatment, with one recent study showing 99.7% of patients out of a sample of 6,000 did not experience any serious complications. Similarly, 97.7% didn’t need any form of additional follow-up care.
“Research confirms that medication abortion can be prescribed through telehealth just as safely as in person, and it confirms that pharmacists can specifically prescribe medication abortion,” Rivin told States Newsroom. “The training they undergo through (the project) mirrors the training that other providers receive.”
The Heritage Foundation, the conservative group behind a set of policies known as Project 2025, has gathered several examples of abortion pills given to pregnant women without their consent. Using those examples, the organization recommends states ban telemedicine and mail-order abortion pills and strengthen or enact laws targeting abortion coercion. There have also been calls to use a dormant federal law called the Comstock Act to ban abortion pills from being sent by mail altogether.
Proof of residency not required to obtain pills by mail
By the end of the Washington pilot program, which took place between Oct. 31 and Nov. 26, 2024, the pharmacists successfully prescribed medication abortion to 43 people who were deemed eligible. To qualify, aside from the applicable medical protocol, the patient needed to be 18 or older and have a Washington address where the medication could be mailed. The recipient of the medication does not need to prove they are a Washington resident, but a valid Washington address must be provided. Washington has shield laws preventing states where abortion is illegal from investigating medical providers if a resident of that state obtains an abortion in Washington.
Following the success of the pilot, Uplift International said it plans to expand the program across Washington and explore pharmacists prescribing medication abortion in person from brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
Rivin said the hope is that the project paves the way for other states to implement the same model, especially as President-elect Donald Trump takes office and Republicans in Congress may eye more federal abortion restrictions.
“It is the first step toward mainstreaming pharmacists as prescribers of medication abortion in person,” Rivin said.
Don Downing, a clinical pharmacy professor emeritus at the University of Washington and co-director of the project, said Washington has one of the most progressive pharmacy laws in the country. State law has recognized pharmacists as health care providers since 1979, allowing them to prescribe many medications approved by the FDA.
Washington shares that progressive pharmacy law status with one of its border states, Idaho, where pharmacists can also prescribe medications for minor ailments such as cold sores and allergies, as well as drugs for treatment of illnesses such as flu and strep throat. Downing said Idaho’s pharmacy laws are actually even more progressive than Washington’s.
However, Idaho has an abortion policy that could hardly be more different. It is the only state in the Northwest with a near-total abortion ban, a civil enforcement law allowing family members to sue medical providers who perform an abortion, and a so-called “abortion trafficking” law making it a felony to take a minor to a state with legal abortion access without parental permission.
Ironically, Downing said the pilot team announced the project in Idaho during an annual pharmacy meeting held at a resort in Coeur d’Alene with pharmacists from Montana, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.
“We presented the idea of pharmacists becoming much more involved in medication abortion access at that meeting, and it was surreal because Idaho at that time was just pouncing on women’s access to abortion,” Downing said.
Providing prescriptions via telehealth first was the priority, he said, because after conducting several listening sessions before launching the pilot, the consensus among women interviewed was that they preferred the privacy of an online experience.
“If you’re in a small town, if you go to the doctor’s office, you go to the school nurse, a pharmacy, there’s a good chance you’re going to see a neighbor, a relative, and someone is for sure going to ask you what you’re doing there today,” Downing said. “Women nationwide are increasingly saying, if I can get it online the same way we buy from Amazon, if I can do this without running into my aunt, so much the better.”
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Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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