House Democrats are calling on five major pharmacy chains to make an effort to dispense mifepristone in states where it remains legal, following a recent Supreme Court decision upholding the drug’s current availability.
In letters sent to Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Costco and Health Mart, a group of more than 50 House Democrats led by Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) pressured pharmacies to become authorized distributors of mifepristone.
“We are disappointed that you have not publicly sought certification over the past year,” the Democrats wrote. “We urge you to consider policies that would make it easier for consumers and pharmacy employees to access essential, time-sensitive reproductive health services, including medication abortion.”
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration established a process for retail pharmacies to become certified to dispense mifepristone to patients with valid prescriptions, a first for the two-drug process used for medication abortion.
Goldman and Chu said they contacted the same five pharmacies in June 2023 about offering mifepristone, but the companies did not say whether they planned to get certified.
Following a Supreme Court ruling last month upholding current availability of mifepristone, Democrats urged pharmacies to reconsider.
“The lack of action towards certification is inconsistent with your company’s professed values of supporting equal access to health care and gender equality,” they wrote. “Given the intensifying attacks on bodily autonomy and people’s freedom to make their own health care decisions, we believe your company has a social responsibility to consumers and the community to address this issue as soon as possible.”
Lawmakers have until July 12 to respond from the pharmacies.
Walgreens and CVS are the only two major pharmacies that have publicly applied for certification, and both began selling mifepristone in March in states where it is still legal.
Walgreens in particular has come under fire from both sides of the abortion debate: The company has angered Democrats and abortion-rights advocates by refusing to sell the abortion pill in 21 states, including four where abortion is still legal.
The company also faced an onslaught of attacks and threats from Republican attorneys general and anti-abortion groups for selling mifepristone in the first place.
