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Attorneys general

Coalition of 17 States and DC Seeks Removal of Restrictive FDA Rules on Mifepristone for Medication Abortions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The coalition of 17 states, including Vermont, and the District of Columbia is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ease restrictions on mifepristone, a medication used in abortions, which has been approved since 2000. The coalition, led by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, presented evidence that the current restrictions, imposed due to political pressure, are burdensome and prevent patients, especially in rural areas, from accessing medication abortions safely. Since receiving FDA approval, over 7.5 million women have safely used mifepristone, yet the FDA has set unnecessary requirements that discourage medical professionals from providing medication abortion despite their proper training.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coalition of 17 states, including Vermont, and the District of Columbia has requested the FDA to remove restrictions on mifepristone, a medication used in abortions, citing its safety record and the burdens imposed by the FDA's continued restrictions.
  • The coalition presented evidence on the safety of medication abortion in their states and the impact of the FDA's restrictions, which have been in place since 2000.
  • Over 7.5 million women have safely used mifepristone for abortion care or miscarriage management since its FDA approval.
  • The FDA requirements for mifepristone impose unnecessary burdens, including requiring providers to become registered prescribers, pharmacies to obtain special certification, and patients to sign a form agreeing to voluntarily terminate their pregnancy.
  • The coalition requests the FDA to remove these restrictions or allow states to regulate mifepristone according to their own safety standards.
  • The coalition is led by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and includes Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
  • The coalition's filing supplements a citizen petition filed by Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and New York on June 5.

Statistics:

  • Since its FDA approval in 2000, over 7.5 million women have safely used mifepristone for abortion care or miscarriage management.
  • The FDA has set restrictions on mifepristone that are not warranted by its long and well-documented history of safety.
  • The coalition's filing urges the FDA to eliminate unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone, which make it harder for patients to access medication abortions, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.
  • The coalition is seeking relief from the FDA's restrictions, which have been imposed due to political pressure, and are not based on the medication's safety record.

Sources:

  • Office of the Vermont Attorney General
  • Filing submitted to the FDA by the coalition of 17 states and the District of Columbia
  • Citizen petition filed by Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, and New York on June 5

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