New York state has announced that it will stockpile abortion pills called misoprostol, a medication used for abortions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the state health department to purchase 150,000 doses of misoprostol, an alternative abortion medication.
This is in response to the recent Texas court ruling that could potentially suspend the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, the main drug used for medication abortions. The decision comes after a day when California announced securing 2 million pills of misoprostol.
New York To Stockpile Abortion Pills
During a press conference on April 11, Governor Hochul criticized the Texas judge who issued the ruling.
According to U.S. News, Hochul said that the Texas judge thought he knew better than thousands of scientists and doctors who have deemed mifepristone to be a safe and effective medication for decades. She added that the court's decision is an attack on democracy and not just abortion rights.
The governor of New York expressed her disbelief at the current situation regarding abortion pills, stating that courts have never overturned an FDA decision that is supported by scientific evidence. She further reiterated her commitment to ensuring that residents of New York have access to medication abortion, regardless of any potential challenges or obstacles.
According to Hochul, she is collaborating with the state legislature to make it mandatory for private insurers to include coverage for misoprostol when prescribed for abortions in an off-label manner. She stands firm on her decision, saying that New Yorkers will continue to have access to abortion pills and abortion care for pregnant mothers who are under health threatening circumstances.
The Daily Progress reported that if the drug is taken off the market, the state will provide $20 million to providers to bolster access to other methods of care.
Medication abortions are the most commonly used method for terminating a pregnancy in the U.S., and they typically involve a two-drug regimen of mifepristone followed by misoprostol. However, misoprostol can be used alone as an abortion medication in some parts of the world.
Misoprostol is FDA-approved for treating gastric ulcers, which means it will remain available even if mifepristone is taken off the market.
Ongoing Legal Battle Over Abortion Pills
The legal battle over access to mifepristone has reached the US Supreme Court, following opposing rulings from federal judges in Texas and Washington state. The approval of the drug, which has been a common option for abortions for over two decades, was halted by a Texas judge.
However, in contrast, Judge Thomas O. Rice from Washington State issued a ruling to maintain access to the drug in 17 states. This decision allows the drug to be provided through telemedicine and mail, which is crucial during the pandemic when many clinics have had to limit their services.
Furthermore, according to CNBC, Governor Hochul is the latest Democratic governor to announce the stockpiling of abortion medication. California, Massachusetts, and Washington State are among the other states that have also stockpiled the drugs.
Danco Laboratories, the distributor of mifepristone, and the Justice Department have jointly requested the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturn Kacsmaryk's ruling before noon on Thursday.
With the ongoing legal battle and contradicting rulings, Democratic governors are taking measures to secure alternative medication and maintain access to safe and legal abortions.
