Congressman Dan Goldman Commends Walgreens and CVS for Obtaining Certification to Distribute Mifepristone, Renews Call for Other Major Pharmacies to Pursue Certification
Walgreens and CVS Announce Certification to Distribute Mifepristone, Will Begin Selling Abortion Medication This Month
In June 2023, Goldman, Chu Led 52 House Democrats In Pressing Five Major Pharmacies to Obtain Certification to Dispense Mifepristone, Most Common Abortion Medication
Mifepristone Has Been Targeted by Extremist Attacks on Abortion Rights and Republican Attempts to Ban Abortion Nationwide
Read Goldman’s June 2023 Letter to Pharmacies Here
New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today commended Walgreens and CVS for their announcement that they had obtained certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute mifepristone. Mifepristone is the most common medication abortion drug and the subject of extremist Republican attacks on reproductive freedom. This announcement comes less than one month before the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a case which will determine the fate of medication abortion access nationwide.
In June of 2023, Congressman Goldman and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) led 52 House Democrats in pressing Walmart, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and HealthMart to undergo the certification process to dispense mifepristone.
"I applaud Walgreens and CVS for completing the FDA’s new certification process so that they can begin to distribute safe and effective abortion medication, mifepristone, within the month,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “In June of 2023, I led my colleagues in calling for Walmart, Kroger, Costco, HealthMart, and Safeway to begin the same certification process. Now that Walgreens and CVS are certified, it is imperative that these remaining pharmacies follow suit to ensure equitable access to medication abortion across the country.”
In January of 2023, the FDA created a pathway for patients with certified prescriptions to obtain mifepristone through a certified retail pharmacy. To date, CVS and Walgreens are the only large retail pharmacies who have publicly committed to undergoing the process and followed through to receive certification.
In their June letter, which was endorsed by Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America, Goldman and his colleagues strongly urged these five major pharmacies to facilitate access to reproductive health care services, including medication abortion, which are time sensitive and essential. Despite having over a year to do so, these pharmacies have failed to become certified and have not yet indicated they plan to seek certification to dispense mifepristone, even in states where it remains legal.
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