Senator introduces medication abortion bill

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper joined Senator Tina Smith and a group of his colleagues to introduce The Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act, a bill that protects access to medication abortion in states where abortion is still legal. The legislation would protect current FDA guidelines so that women are guaranteed access to medication abortion through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies.

Scientific evidence has demonstrated that mifepristone — medication used in some abortions — can be prescribed without an in-person appointment, be delivered through the mail, and is safe and effective for patients to administer from home. This bill would codify the current mifepristone FDA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure access for patients.

“Mifepristone is safe, trusted medication that can be prescribed over a telehealth visit,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to protect this access to reproductive rights so women get the care they need.”

Medication abortion accounts for over half of all abortions. Recent state-led attempts to restrict abortion access have moved to narrow or completely ban patient access to mifepristone. By guaranteeing access to medication abortion through telehealth appointments and the mail, this legislation helps safekeep remaining reproductive health care in a postroe world.

Full text of the bill can be found at https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2023/02/ Protecting-access-to-medication-abortion-act.pdf.

The legislation has been endorsed by the National Women’s Health Network, New Mexico Doula Association, Catholics for Choice, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Reproductive Health Access Project, Black Girls Vote, National Birth Equity Collaborative, Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice.