NCL applauds FDA for its latest decision to approve an updated COVID-19 vaccine

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September 11, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

Washington, DC – The NCL applauds the FDA’s announcement approving the latest COVID vaccine, which will be available to many Americans immediately or very soon to patients who are eligible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 9,000 COVID-19 hospital admissions in the week ending July 29, a 12.5-percent increase from the week before. While that’s far below the nearly 45,000 admissions recorded the same week a year ago, the new vaccine is nevertheless is welcome and much needed to keep COVID and its new variants in check. The percentage of emergency department patients diagnosed with COVID-19 has risen gradually in July.

National Consumers League response to the Request for Information regarding FDA regulation of CBD

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August 25, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – On August 17, the National Consumers League responded to the Request for Information regarding FDA-Regulation of CBD.

“In 2019, in response to the proliferation of unreviewed and untested CBD products, NCL identified the need for greater education among consumers about CBD and better enforcement of regulations in the CBD marketplace. NCL created Consumers for Safe CBD to address the need, champion the rights of consumers, and call on government and industry to do better – to ensure safety and promote a pathway for new products through clinically tested scientific research. Since then, action has been taken on the state and federal levels to increase access to cannabinoids beyond CBD. In response, NCL expanded our educational campaign and established Cannabis Consumer Watch.” 

The full letter can be found here.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

Safety in question: The alarming disparities between cannabis product health claims and research, and the magnified risks for women

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By Health Policy Intern Grace Lassila

July 27, 2023

When I started my National Consumers League (NCL) internship in May 2023, I quickly dove into NCL’s health policy work. NCL is leading on several efforts to protect consumers –one area of focus that stood out to me is their work in the cannabis policy space. NCL is a founding member of Cannabis Consumer Watch (CCW), which educates consumers on cannabinoids, their effects, the risks related to the unregulated marketplace, and the ways policymakers and regulators can help protect consumers. NCL is also a part of the Collaborative for Cannabinoid Science and Safety (CCSS), which also works to educate people about cannabinoids and policy in the interest of public health.

CCW’s “test your cannabis knowledge” quiz was shocking for me. Going into the quiz, I was fairly confident about my knowledge, but as I started getting wrong answer after wrong answer, I realized I had no idea that not only are these products under-researched, but they may pose serious public health risks for consumers. Products can be sold, without having gained FDA approval, making false claims about their medicinal abilities.  And side effects are not adequately researched or revealed to consumers.

One particularly concerning aspect of the cannabis marketplace is that while CBD or Delta-8 or other cannabis products are often marketed to women, there is a concerning lack of research into the safety of these products for women. Historically, misogyny and sex discrimination have made women’s health severely under-researched and underfunded. More research on diseases, disorders, and medication is conducted on men, not women. Women are misdiagnosed far greater than men are, and experience dangerous health outcomes because of it (Greenhalgh). And without sufficient research and data on women’s health, it is incredibly difficult for legislators to write policy (Adams). Overall, for women’s health to improve, more resources need to be devoted to this issue.

Despite cannabis companies’ marketing efforts that claim their products can help with anything from menstrual cycle-related pain to morning sickness, there is little insight into the effects of cannabis or cannabis derivatives on women, pregnant people, nursing parents, and newborns. What we do know is that the risks are very real – a recent study found that THC use during pregnancy was linked to changes in fetal development and several studies have shown that CBD can be transferred to a baby via breast milk. The FDA strongly advises against THC or CBD usage while pregnant or breastfeeding. And, given the evidence currently available, I would caution any women from using these products for medical benefit.

The lack of regulation, as well as research, is very concerning. Because the FDA currently does not regulate these products, consumers have no way of knowing whether the dosage, ingredients, or claims on the label are accurate and no way of knowing whether or not they are contaminated. Though some products may acknowledge they are ‘Not Approved by FDA,’ many consumers may not see this fine print – and assume that anything they can buy at their local grocery store must be safe for consumption. While the risks of an unregulated cannabis marketplace affects all consumers, women who need medical health and relief and turn to cannabis products may be more at risk.

The good news is that in January of this year, the FDA recognized this grey area for regulation – particularly for CBD – and stated that CBD would not be regulated as a food and dietary supplement anymore, because of the unknown safety risks, and requesting that Congress act quickly to protect public health and the consumers involved.

While cannabis products are often marketed as a miracle drug, they are not. While there may be some health benefits, without comprehensive research and regulation of these products, the risks outweigh the potential good. Consumers remain responsible for making their health decisions, and women in particular should be vigilant. The FDA is heading in the right direction but more must be done to protect consumers – and women in particular. I encourage you to learn more about a safe path forward here and help NCL raise awareness of this important issue.

Sources:

Adams, Katie. “Women’s Health Is Suffering Due to Lack of Research and Funding, Experts Say.” MedCity News, 9 Dec. 2022, medcitynews.com/2022/12/womens-health-is-suffering-due-to-lack-of-research-and-funding-experts-say/#:~:text=Women’s%20health%20has%20been%20historically,healthcare%20conference%20in%20Washington%2C%20D.C.

Eversheds Sutherland. “FDA Says ‘No’ to CBD: Now What?” FDA Says “No” to CBD: Now What? – Eversheds Sutherland, us.eversheds-sutherland.com/mobile/NewsCommentary/Legal-Alerts/256713/FDA-says-no-to-CBD-Now-what#:~:text=Since%202018%2C%20the%20FDA%20has,%2Dapproved%20drug%20(Epidiolex). Accessed 6 July 2023.

Greenhalgh, Ally. “Medicine and Misogyny: The Misdiagnosis of Women.” Confluence, 5 Dec. 2022, confluence.gallatin.nyu.edu/sections/research/medicine-and-misogyny-the-misdiagnosis-of-women.

Grinspoon, Peter. “Cannabidiol (CBD): What We Know and What We Don’t.” Harvard Health, 24 Sept. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476.

“What You Should Know about Using CBD When Pregnant or Breastfeeding.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-should-know-about-using-cannabis-including-cbd-when-pregnant-or-breastfeeding#:~:text=FDA%20strongly%20advises%20against%20the,during%20pregnancy%20or%20while%20breastfeeding.&text=Cannabis%20and%20Cannabis-derived%20products,products%20appearing%20all%20the%20time. Accessed 6 July 2023.

Financing the healthcare of tomorrow playlist: Tracks for consumers and policymakers

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By Robin Strongin, Health Policy Director

July 12, 2023

My husband has advanced Lewy Body Dementia and one of the few things we can still enjoy together is listening to music. We used to curate playlists for all kinds of music. We even put together playlists to mark special occasions (like our daughter’s wedding). Really, any topic became fair game for a playlist.

I was invited to speak at the Patients Rising Disrupting Healthcare Summit summer conference in Washington DC. My panel topic was Financing the Healthcare of Tomorrow. As I was preparing my presentation, I spoke with Michael Capaldi, Executive Director, the Institute for Gene Therapies. Mike is an expert on gene and cell therapies, and these therapies are definitely the healthcare of tomorrow, although thankfully, we are beginning to see the promise of these therapies today. When we talked about my presentation, he said, “you know, Robin, patients are really at a crossroads:  on the one hand, they are much more educated and empowered about their care, but some of the new therapies on the horizon are so complex, the cost and time commitments to innovate in these areas are so high, that groups like the National Consumers League [i]are in position to help patients and caregivers understand these complexities.”

And that’s when it hit me. A playlist. My colleague had me at Crossroads. If you’re a fan of delta blues, like my husband and me, then you know Robert Johnson and his classic, Crossroads.  The rest of my remarks rounded out my Financing the Healthcare of Tomorrow Playlist: Tracks for Consumers and Policymakers, which include:

Crossroads (Robert Johnson)—Robert Johnson’s haunting work reminds me of the difficult choices health policymakers have to make when it comes to healthcare financing—of course research and innovation are expensive—the diseases for which there are no cures, the conditions crying out for prevention, are complex and require decades of research, a deep understanding of basic science, and navigating an unpredictable regulatory path. Too many diseases and too few resources lead to heartbreaking trade-offs. Patients also have difficult choices to make when it comes to paying for their care. We shouldn’t have to be making deals with the devil—as Robert Johnson sings about in Crossroads. Instead, we need to reframe the questions we ask, review how we prioritize funding streams, and think creatively about financing mechanisms. Rather than question if society spends too much on healthcare, we should be asking how can we spend it more efficiently? How do we adequately incentivize all involved in funding transformational innovation? How do we make sure patients can afford and access the treatment they need?

I Am Woman (Helen Redding)—it gets really old but here we are, still talking about, and working on, closing the gender gap—in raising capital for venture funding for women-lead innovation teams; and in awarding grants to women lead research teams. Did you know, that according to the NIH Database monitoring NIH grants, grants awarded to women lead teams in 2022 numbered 19,028 and in the same year men won 31, 560 NIH grants? Progress yes, but not good enough. Not even close. Why is this important?  Because the teams with funding ask the research questions. The more diverse the research teams, the broader the array of diseases that are studied. More cures for more people.

Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Williams, Jr.)—I want to be careful and not paint all hospitals with the same brush but I would be remiss not to point out that too many hospitals are behaving badly: taking huge advantage of their nonprofit status, aggressively placing liens on patients who can’t afford their care, engaging in abusive debt collection activities, and worse, denying care; manipulating the 340B program designed 30 years ago to enable true safety-net providers to help low-income and other vulnerable patients access more affordable medicines and healthcare services. Some entities participating in the 340B program have taken advantage of the program’s current lack of clarity at the expense of the patients that the program is meant to serve.

Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood) – When it comes to taking advantage of our healthcare system, one major player in the drug pricing process might be considered “bad to the bone” – pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. PBMs continue to find ways to increase their profits while consumers are forced to pay high out-of-pocket costs for the prescription medicines they need. Although they were intended to help negotiate savings on medicines (which would be good), they are not passing along discounts to patients and are actually incentivized to steer patients to higher cost medicines – b-b-b-b-bad to the bone if you ask me!

Party Like It’s 1999 (Prince)—Shakespeare asked, What’s in a name? Fair question. Reminds me to also ask, what’s in a definition and when is it time to update it? How we defined value, quality (as in value of care, quality of care) and other terms in 1999, needs to be reevaluated on an ongoing basis. New innovations, insights, and understandings necessitate we revisit how we define, measure, and update the terms and metrics used to make decisions that affect healthcare financing. A great example comes from another colleague[ii]  who has co-authored and published compelling work on a “paradigm shift in managing high blood pressure.” He and his colleagues make the case that “Abandoning the view that hypertension is a disease in favor of regarding it as a cause of a disease and hence, adopting a population-based preventive approach would encourage the development of simpler guidelines.” Refreshed decades old thinking that could yield the elusive results the status quo has not achieved seems worthy of a party, like its 2023.

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) and Stayin’ Alive (The Bee Gees)—Really, isn’t this what we are all trying to do?

A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke)—for patients like my husband, for our family, and for all the other patients and caregivers, change cannot come soon enough.  I pledge to do everything possible to advocate for meaningful change and help Patients Rising.

[i] I direct health policy for National Consumers League

[ii] Wald, Nicholas J., Wald, David S., Kellermann, Arthur L., “When Guidelines Cause Hypertension,” Commentary, The American Journal of Medicine, 2018, pp. 1402-4.

We must never forget the importance of vaccines

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Sally Greenberg

By Sally Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer

I have written before about being born into a family that experienced the agony of the polio epidemic. My uncle Roger Joseph’s battle with the disease—including his diagnosis in 1951 by my father, a practicing internist—devastated our entire family. My uncle, a golden boy, popular, handsome, brilliant, and kind, graduated from the University of Minnesota and Harvard Law School; he also won a silver star for his military service in WW2. Married with three daughters, he had a thriving law practice when he fell ill.

His case was severe and rendered him paralyzed. Confined to an Iron Lung for two years, the device was designed to stimulate breathing in patients whose lungs no longer functioned. With a great deal of therapy, my Uncle Roger, by then quadriplegic, moved to a motorized wheelchair that he ended up using for the rest of his life. He doted on his children, moved in with my grandmother, slept in a rocking bed to facilitate his breathing, and had an attendant on duty 24 hours a day. When we visited my grandmother, we visited our uncle too. He also came to our home for Sunday dinners, and I recall him taking breaths carefully before speaking, and when he did, he was wry and funny. He also had to learn to write again with his non-dominant hand. My mother, who had always idolized him, marveled at how his handwriting never changed.

My uncle lived 16 years with polio, thanks to a loving family, modern medicine, financial wherewithal, his wheelchair, and his attendant. Paralyzed from the neck down, he nonetheless spent these years productively, doting on his daughters, going to work every day, and attending baseball games, and even traveling abroad.

In 1954, U.S. physician Jonas Salk developed a vaccine to prevent the disease. The polio vaccine was first tested on 1.6 million children in Canada, Finland, and the United States before it was used more broadly. By 1957, annual cases had dropped from 58,000 to 5,600, and by 1961, only 161 cases remained. Had my uncle had access to the vaccine, he never would have gotten sick.

The powerful lessons about vaccines weren’t lost on anyone in my family. This explains why I feel obligated to confront head-on the dishonesty and lies of the anti-vaxxers. I have traveled to the CDC and the FDA numerous times to testify in support of childhood and adult vaccinations, and each time have been confronted by vaccine deniers.

Here’s the problem: Those of us with memories of family members with devastating diseases like polio are aging out. We are victims of our own success in wiping out childhood diseases. Younger generations have now been vaccinated for polio, measles, rubella, mumps, influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough so they do not know the trauma these illnesses caused to millions of families. Come to think of it, I’m in that category myself.

Florence Kelley, who in 1899 launched the National Consumers League, wrote in the 1880s about the dark days of “diphtheria”; she lost three young siblings to the disease, which sent her mother into lifelong depression. But I have never known anyone with diphtheria, thanks to vaccines.

My 27-year-old son never had measles—nor any of his friends. But my siblings and I all did, along with rubella, chicken pox, and the mumps. Measles alone is far more serious than often understood. In 2021 alone it killed nearly 128,000 unvaccinated children under age 5 around the world.

All of which leads me to the reason I have written this blog. Each year, Uncle Roger’s daughters proudly award the Roger E. Joseph Prize, (created by my Uncle Burton Joseph, in honor of his brother and their dad) and for this year’s prize, my cousin Linda produced a video; it tells a compelling story of her experience with her father’s illness. Hebrew Union College, which graduates reform rabbis, hosts the awards. Honorees have included Rosa Parks, Henry Louis Gates, Morris Dees, Sara Bloomfield, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. A complete list is at the link below.

Indeed, the Roger E. Joseph Prize is a point of immense pride for our family, but it also gives us the opportunity to talk about diseases like polio and, now Covid, and the critical importance of the vaccines developed to prevent them.

How truly fortunate we are to have a medical establishment that has helped to prevent families from suffering, the way ours did, when a loved one falls ill from an infectious disease.

As the anti-vaccine movement grows each year—a = movement that traffics in conspiracy theories and junk medicine—note Robert Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine crusade, which his own family has denounced in this article published by Politico.

Now more than ever we need to have conversations about the critical importance of vaccines.

http://www.rogerejosephprize.org/about-the-prize

NCL statement on nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the Director of the National Institutes of Health

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May 15, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – The National Consumers League welcomes President Joe Biden nomination’s of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NIH plays a critical role in advancing science to benefit patients. Dr. Bertagnolli’s deep understanding of biomedical research and proven leadership in directing the National Cancer Institute makes her an ideal nominee for the NIH Directorship.

“Dr. Bertagnolli brings so much experience to this post,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO. “She is a physician, scientist, and a patient herself, so she has seen all sides of the issues facing patients and the NIH. We would be fortunate indeed to have someone of Dr. Bertagnolli stature and accomplishments leading the NIH.”

Dr. Bertagnolli is currently the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Prior to her role at the NCI, Dr. Bertagnolli was a professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In addition, she was the recent chair of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a national clinical trial network of the NCI.

“NCL believes that Dr. Bertagnolli is the right leader for this critical agency that advances public health. NCL supports her nomination and we urge the Senate to confirm her promptly,” Greenberg added.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL statement on FDA review of the oral toxicity of cannabidiol (CBD)

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May 12, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – This week, researchers from the Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an analysis on the toxicity of cannabidiol (CBD). The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, has been actively monitoring the growing threats to consumer safety as the market for untested, unapproved cannabidiol (CBD) products has exploded. NCL Chief Executive Officer, Sally Greenberg, released the following statement:

“We’re encouraged to see the experts at the FDA continue efforts to study CBD. These findings unfortunately further validate our concerns around the risks, including negative drug-drug interactions, disruption of critical metabolic pathways, liver injury, reproductive toxicity, and more. These concerns are of course heightened by the fact that many consumers are using products without physician oversight and often use products for long periods of time. The data highlights the need to ensure that FDA has sufficient regulatory tools and resources to mitigate public health risks in this wild west CBD marketplace.”

Learn more about the path to safe cannabis and CBD use here. And learn more about the cannabis consumer market at cannabiswatch.org.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL applauds expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina

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March 28, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. “NCL applauds Governor Roy Cooper, the work of relentless advocates, and those in the state legislature -Republicans and Democrats- who worked to make this week’s legislation possible,” said Robin Strongin, director of NCL’s health policy work. House Bill 76, the Access to Healthcare Options, is expected to provide health coverage to over 600,000 people throughout North Carolina.

“The expansion of Medicaid is a lifeline for those in need, shoring up rural health care, strengthening mental health services, improving access to health care for working families. The other 10 states should follow North Carolina’s lead,” continued Strongin.

Governor Cooper proposed using a portion of the almost $1.8 billion Medicaid expansion signing bonus to create the Improving Health Outcomes for People Everywhere (IHOPE) Fund.  Medicaid expansion will take effect upon the signing into law of the FY 2023-25 appropriations act.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL applauds the Biden Administration’s $11-billion budget proposal to eliminate Hepatitis C

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March 22, 2023

Media contact: National Consumers League – Katie Brown, katie@nclnet.org, 202-823-8442

Washington, D.C. – President Biden has proposed significant funding for a historic national Hepatitis C elimination program. “President Biden’s efforts to create a mandatory national program to expand testing, treatment, and prevention of Hepatitis C is a major step forward in eradicating a disease for which we have a cure.” said Robin Strongin, NCL’s Health Policy Director.  “We have the opportunity to use a proven oral medication to cure a lethal disease.  NCL stands ready to assist and is pleased to see initial bipartisan, bicameral support to relinquish a disease affecting 2.4 million Americans.”

Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection transmitted through blood. Roughly 40% of people do not know that they are infected.  Left untreated, Hep C can lead to chronic illness, including liver cancer and death.  The tragedy here is that a cure has existed since 2013.  The price of the once-daily, 8-12 week course of an oral therapy (pills) that cures the disease in 95% of patients is roughly $24,000, down from its original price, but still out of reach for many. Populations at increased risk of Hep C include people who use or inject drugs, people with HIV/AIDS, people experiencing homelessness, and the incarcerated.

The program overall is expected to cost $5.2 billion over 10 years after accounting for the reduced health care costs, and that’s only the financial calculation. It doesn’t take into account the number of lives saved from the devastation of losing a loved one. Dr. Francis Collins, the White House official who has championed this initiative from the beginning, estimates it would save more than 100,000 lives by 2050.

NCL echoes the sentiments expressed by White House Hep C senior advisors Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Rachael Fleurence in their recent op-ed:

“It is rare to have the opportunity, using a simple and safe oral medication, to eliminate a lethal disease. But that is the situation facing the United States with hepatitis C. Congressional support can make possible a historic public health initiative that can prevent suffering, save lives, and ultimately save money — to the benefit of all U.S. residents. How can we not do this?”

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

Judge Kacsmaryk is poised to redefine the withdrawal method: FDA interuptus should alarm everyone

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By Robin Strongin, Health Policy Director

Bill Tompkins

Here we go, again.

Up until the Dobbs decision in 2022, Roe v Wade had been the law of the land since 1973.

Up until today, women didn’t have to worry that mifepristone, approved by FDA in 2000, would be available as a safe and effective and legal way to end an early pregnancy.

But, Texas Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has been vehemently anti-choice his entire life, is the judge who will decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction ordering FDA to withdraw its longstanding approval of mifepristone, the first pill in the two-drug medication abortion regimen.

Women, and their health providers, stand at a crossroads.  All women, not just those in Texas.

For some, it’s not enough that Roe was overturned in 2022.  Back in November 2022 the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, filed a lawsuit on behalf of antiabortion medical organizations and doctors.  At issue is the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, otherwise known as the medication abortion pill.  The plaintiffs, led by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, have asked the judge to issue a preliminary injunction ordering the FDA to withdraw mifepristone.

Photo: Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

This is unchartered territory.  The court is being asked, for the first time, to basically overturn the approval of a drug.  A drug that has been safely used for decades by over 5.6 million[i] women.  The drug regimen terminates pregnancies successfully 99.6% of the time, with a 0.4% risk of major complications, and an associated mortality rate of less than 0.001 percent (0.00064%).[ii]

This case, and several others that have been brought forward on medication abortion, raise questions about the role of the courts in reviewing the FDA’s findings about a particular drug.  This is chilling. Not only for the women who rely on this medication, but this case has the potential to set up an extremely alarming precedent for other FDA approved drugs.

And it’s dangerous territory for women and their health providers.  According to a court filing, FDA stated that overturning its approval of mifepristone would “cause significant harm, depriving patients of a safe and effective drug that has been on the market for more than two decades.”

Should Judge Kacsmaryk rule in favor of the plaintiffs, over half the abortions in the US could come to a halt—this includes abortions in states where abortion rights are (still) protected.  This case is expected to find its way to the Supreme Court—to the same justices who overturned Roe v Wade.

Through a coordinated strategy to take away women’s reproductive rights, advancing abortion bans—at the federal level, at the state level, and through the courts, results in confusion, fear, and poor health outcomes.

Fortunately, experts seem to agree that if the worst were to happen, and the preliminary injunction is granted (and remain in place following the inevitable appeals), there are several options that could allow for the continuing supply of the drug and for providers to continue prescribing.

For example, some abortion providers are planning to provide only the second abortion medication, misoprostol, which is used safely on its own in many countries, though it does have more side effects than mifepristone.

Earlier this week, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif) announced that California state government would no long do business with Walgreens because of their decision that it won’t sell mifepristone in states where Republicans have threatened legal action, even in those states where abortion remians legal.

All of this is happening during Women’s History Month.  But, knowledge is power. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide,  “Since its approval, medication abortion has been used over four million times and has become so widely accepted by patients and providers that it now accounts for more than half of all US abortions—492,210 of the 930,160 abortions (53%) provided in 2020 were done with abortion pills.”

According to the Guttmacher researchers, the impact of eliminating access to medication abortion would differ greatly state to state, but could be especially promounced in rural counties and regions of any state….These 10 states could experience the most severe impact:

Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania,Vermontand Washington.

Guttmacher created an interactive map, capturing abortion-related policies and data, categorizing states from the most restrictive to the most protective.

On the map, viewers can also see demographic information and key abortion statistics. The data for women of reproductive age* in each state include:

  • Age-groups and race/ethnicity
  • Proportion living below 200% of the federal poverty level
  • Types of health insurance used
  • Proportion born outside the United State

Abortion-related statistics for each state include:

  • Number and rate of abortions provided
  • Number of clinics that provide abortions
  • Average driving distance to the nearest abortion clinic

The new interactive map is available here.

*The use of “women” to refer to the population of people potentially impacted by abortion policies reflects the terminology in the US census, from which many of our data points are drawn. We recognize that gender identities are diverse and not everyone who needs an abortion may identify as a woman. We reflect that reality in our language where we can, while also accurately describing the underlying data.

[i] Mifepristone US Post-Marketing Adverse Events Summary through 6/30/2022; TTT #2022-2468.  NDA 020687.  ANDA 091178. www.fda.gov

[ii] Mifepristone US Post-Marketing Adverse Events Summary through 12/31/2018; RCM #2007-525.  NDA 20-687.  www.fda.gov