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Senators Urge HHS to Protect Access to Medication Abortion

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Elizabeth Warren, and Tammy Baldwin joined forces to send a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging concrete actions to protect and expand access to medication abortion. The letter comes ahead of the deadline set by President Biden's Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services. The lawmakers emphasized that for more than two decades, people have been using Mifepristone and misoprostol for medication abortion, which is now safe and effective, and accounts for more than half of all abortions nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Senators urge HHS to enforce federal preemption of state laws that ban medication abortion, intervention from the Department of Justice (DOJ) is recommended to challenge these laws.
  • The updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for Mifepristone should be finalized as quickly as possible, with consideration to lifting medically unnecessary REMS restrictions.
  • A public health emergency declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act could protect those involved in medication abortion from state restrictions and lawsuits.
  • Strengthening enforcement of existing abortion requirements and enhancing Medicaid programs in states is also recommended.
  • Adding a miscarriage indication for Mifepristone with misoprostol, eliminating barriers to importation, and expanding access to medication abortion for veterans are other options proposed by the Senators.
  • The Senators support the Administration's efforts to take all possible actions to protect abortion access and urge them to consider the options proposed in the letter.

Statistics:

  • 34 million women and girls of reproductive age are at risk of losing access to abortion rights.
  • Medication abortion accounts for more than half of all abortions nationwide.
  • The number of women veterans accessing care through the VA is approximately 550,000; they should have access to medication abortion and all related services.

Sources:

  • [Letter to HHS from Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Elizabeth Warren, and Tammy Baldwin](https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter%20to%20HHS%20on%20Medication%20Abortion.pdf)
  • [Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/08/03/executive-order-protecting-access-to-reproductive-health-care-services/)

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