New York is taking measures to secure the availability of mifepristone, an abortion pill, in the state.
Other states in the country are prohibiting the dispensing of abortion pills. However, this is not the case for New York.
New York government officials are reminding major pharmacy chains that abortion pills are legal in the state and urging them to continue to supply them.
Availability of abortion pills in New York
According to Reuters, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James are taking action to ensure access to essential reproductive healthcare for women in the state.
In a recent letter to the CEOs of Walgreens, CVS Health, and Rite Aid, the officials requested that the pharmacy chains commit to making abortion pills available in the state.
The letter emphasizes the critical need for access to mifepristone, an essential medication for medical abortion.
The state's top officials call on the pharmacies to dispense the medication to patients with a valid doctor's prescription.
They remind the pharmacies that New York's law protects access to abortion as a fundamental right, and there are no legal barriers to dispensing mifepristone in New York pharmacies.
As per Axios, the officials express concern about political pressure being applied to limit access to reproductive healthcare in other states and urge the pharmacies not to be intimidated by such tactics.
They emphasize that it is essential for healthcare providers to stand up for access to reproductive healthcare in New York.
In their letter, Hochul and James set a deadline of 10 business days for the pharmacies to respond, either confirming their commitment to distributing mifepristone in the state or providing a legal rationale if they refuse to do so.
The availability of the abortion pill mifepristone
The letter sent by Governor Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James follows Walgreens' announcement last week that it will not dispense mifepristone in 21 states.
According to CNN, Walgreens also announced that they would halt the sale of mifepristone, including in some states where abortion remains legal, after receiving a letter from the GOP attorneys general.
However, Walgreens' senior director for external relations, Fraser Engerman, said the company's position has always been to dispense mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so once certified by the FDA.
In January, the US Food and Drug Administration said pharmacies could dispense mifepristone to individuals with prescriptions. This recent move sparked a backlash from Republican states seeking to limit access to abortion.
In response to Walgreens' decision to restrict access to abortion pills, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would be pulling back on a renewal of a $54 million contract with Walgreens.
The increased attention on medication abortion comes after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, recognizing abortion as a constitutional right nationwide.
Access to reproductive healthcare has been a contentious issue in the United States, with many states passing laws restricting or limiting access to abortion.
New York has taken a firm stance on protecting women's reproductive rights, and the state's top officials are working to ensure that women have access to essential healthcare services.
