Should Congress prevent mifepristone distribution through pharmacies and mail services?
This bill nullifies the modifications made by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2023 to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy under section 505-1 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for the abortion pill mifepristone. The FDA’s modifications to the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy allow pharmacies to dispense mifepristone and for it to be shipped through mail services. This bill prevents both from happening.
Sponsor: Representative Diana Harshbarger (Republican, Tennessee District 1)
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How do you feel?
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Opponents say
• "Pharmacies can now choose to become certified to dispense mifepristone to patients. These changes seek to reduce the burden on the healthcare delivery system while ensuring the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks. These changes also help ensure that patients can access mifepristone similarly to how they would access other prescribed medications." Source: President Biden (Memorandum on Further Efforts to Protect Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services)
Proponents say
• "The FDA’s policy change for Mifepristone is the latest example of President Biden’s crusade toward abortion on-demand at any cost, even at the expense of women’s health. Chemical abortion drugs have been associated with staggering numbers of life-threatening complications. Every woman in America deserves to know the heightened risks involved with chemical abortions before they make a life-altering decision. My bill restores common-sense and proper safety prescriber requirements for the dispensing of these dangerous abortion drugs." Source: Rep. Diana Harshbarger (Republican, Tennessee District 1)
• "Thanks to last year’s Dobbs decision, we have the opportunity to protect and empower life for the first time in a generation. Chemical abortions are dangerous, not only to the unborn child, but also to the mother. The Biden Administration’s move to eliminate in-person dispensing requirements for use of these dangerous drugs was politically motivated and will put millions of women and babies in danger. We must fight every day for those unable to fight for themselves." Source: Rep. Kevin Hern (Republican, Oklahoma District 1)
