With Americans ordered to stay home and families facing new child care and financial constraints, COVID-19 has posed new hurdles to abortion access for many patients.

 

There is a clear solution in many cases: In the early phase of pregnancy,  women can take the medication abortion prescription drug, Mifepristone, in the safety of their own homes with the consultation and guidance of a doctor. Medication abortion drugs are exceedingly safe and effective and now account for approximately 40% of abortion services in the United States.

 

But a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule still requires patients to travel to a designated clinic, medical office, or hospital to pick up a prescription.

 

Along with 21 other state attorneys general, this week we urged the FDA to allow certified prescribers to use telehealth for prescribing Mifepristone.

Patients should not have to risk their health and safety by leaving their homes to seek the health care services they need – especially when that service can be administered by phone and mail.

 

Unfortunately, this prescription issue is just the tip of an ominous iceberg. Rather than working to ensure the right to a safe, legal abortion amidst this pandemic, anti-abortion extremists are exploiting the crisis to hinder or shut down abortion access altogether in some parts of the country.

 

We will not budge on reproductive rights in Oregon, nor will we stand idly by as extremists undermine rights guaranteed to all Americans.

Express Donate:

If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly:

$5

$15

$25

$50