The battle for strong access to abortion continues.
Senate Democrats have urged four major retailers - Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart - to make the prescription abortion pill mifepristone available at their pharmacies and provide clear guidance to customers on accessing it.
In a letter addressed to the CEOs of these companies, 17 senators expressed their disappointment that the companies have yet to publicly declare whether they will sell mifepristone.
In letters dated Monday but released to the public on Tuesday, the senators have asked the CEOs to respond by March 21 with their plans to become certified with the Food and Drug Administration to provide the medication.
The legislators' call for action follows the FDA's decision in January to lift a mifepristone restriction requiring the pill to be dispensed in person at a medical facility.
Senate Democrats are asking major retailers for stronger access
According to CNBC, a coalition of legislators, spearheaded by Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, has called upon large retailers in the United States to offer mifepristone.
Mifepristone is an abortion pill medication that provides transparent information to customers about how to obtain it.
The pill has become the focus of the legal battle over abortion access following the Supreme Court's decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The senators' call to action comes after Walgreens announced that it would stop selling abortion pills permanently in 20 states, including those where abortion is legal.
Major retailers like Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart are now facing pressure to decide whether to sell mifepristone and increase access to the medication.
The majority of abortions in the U.S. are performed using mifepristone in conjunction with misoprostol, which accounts for about half of all procedures.
However, several states have imposed tighter restrictions on mifepristone than federal regulations, creating a complex legal landscape where supporters and opponents of abortion are fighting over the extent of FDA authority versus state law.
The senators' letter to the CEOs requests policies that guarantee the most robust possible access to crucial healthcare, which includes mifepristone.
Additionally, the companies are urged to convey specific information to their customers regarding how they may access such care.
Abortion and Mifepristone's current access
NBC reported that Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan had issued a statement urging major retailers not to deny women access to legal healthcare, specifically the abortion pill mifepristone.
Stabenow emphasized the importance of businesses following the FDA certification process and complying with both state and federal law.
Major retailers who received the letters from the senators, including Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart, have not publicly indicated their stance.
However, the senators have requested a response by March 21 regarding their plans to become certified with the FDA to dispense the medication.
In January, the FDA allowed retail drugstores to sell the abortion pill, subject to their certification under a federal program that monitors the dispensation of the medication.
According to HealthcareDive, the senators also sent letters to CVS Health and Rite Aid, praising their plans to become certified to dispense mifepristone where possible.
However, the senators requested more detail from these companies on how customers can access the pill.
The senators' actions reflect ongoing efforts to increase access to mifepristone as part of a broader debate over abortion access in the US.
Their letters to these major retailers could encourage more companies to provide access to the medication, which would increase access for women who live in areas without clinics that provide abortions or who prefer telemedicine appointments.
