NY Gov Hochul, AG James Demand That Pharmacy Chains Keep Selling Abortion Drugs

New York Governor Kathy Hochul sent a letter to Attorney General Letitia Jones urging pharmacies not to sell abortion pills.

The LetterHochul and James addressed the letter to Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS CEOs. They warned them not to succumb to Republican state pressure to cease selling the abortion drug mifepristone. However, they put pressure on three companies to sell the drug in their respective states by doing so.

“Recent national events have spotlighted the critical role that pharmacies play in providing access to essential health care, including reproductive health care,” Hochul and James wrote. “That is why we write to you today to ask that you commit to making medication abortion available in your retail and mail-order pharmacies across New York State.”

Two officials then attacked a campaign of multiple states’ Attorneys general to stop pharmacies selling abortion pills. The campaign started in January. 22 Republican Attorneys general Dr. Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner, was contacted to request that the agency reverse an order. December 2022 The decision would allow pharmacies to continue to mail mifepristone. This move is against the law in at least 18 US states, which requires that abortion drugs be administered only in the presence a licensed physician. Telemedicine to prescribe a medication abortion is effectively banned.

In February 20 Attorneys general sent Walgreens and other pharmacie chains, including CVS and Walmart, a warning letter informing them that they could be breaking state laws if they dispense abortion drugs. Walgreens responded by saying it We wouldn’t give away abortion pills Either by mail, or at any location in 21 US states, including Alaska and Iowa as well as Kansas and Montana where abortion drugs are legal.

Hochul und James mocked James’s pressure campaign, claiming they were not responsible. “based on a restrictive interpretation of the law and misrepresentation of the facts. We urge you not to allow these tactics to intimidate you, and to commit to making this critical medication available as widely as possible, based on a fair and unbiased interpretation of state and federal law,” They wrote.

Hochul and James pointed out that New York is legal for abortion, as well as medication abortions using Mifepristone. Hochul then asked two questions to the companies:

• “Will you commit to dispense mifepristone to patients with a doctor’s prescription at all FDA certified pharmacy locations in the State of New York? If not, what is the legal basis for this decision?”
• “Will you commit to dispense mifepristone via mail with a doctor’s prescription to patients in the State of New York? If not, what is the legal basis for this decision?”

“New Yorkers urgently need clarity on these questions, as reproductive rights are curtailed and undermined across the nation,” They concluded their discussions.

Hochul and James in New York are under pressure after California Governor Gavin Newsom In response to Walgreens’ decision to discontinue selling abortion pills, the governor of Texas said that his state would no longer do business with Walgreens. “California won’t be doing business with [Walgreens] — or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk,” Newsom Tweet Tuesday “We’re done.”

Newsom spokesperson also noted that “all relationships” According to Reuters: Walgreens and California are currently under review

“From NY Governor Hochul and AG James Demand that Pharmacy Chains Continue Selling Abortion Drugs“

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