Republican Attorneys General Warn CVS and Walgreens Against Mailing Abortion Pills in Their States

In a move against the Biden administration’s new policy, Republican attorneys general from 20 states have written letters to executives at CVS and Walgreens warning them against using the mail to dispense abortion pills in their states.

The joint letter, sent on Wednesday, comes just a month after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that abortion pills can be offered at retail pharmacies in the United States. This policy shift could dramatically expand Americans’ access to such medication.

The letters also rebuke the Justice Department’s recent guidance, issued in an opinion from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel, that concluded the federal law did not prohibit the mailing of abortion pills. The guidance was released ahead of the rollout of new rules from the FDA allowing certified pharmacies to dispense medication abortion with a prescription, including by mail order.

The attorneys general argue that the new policy could lead to a lack of oversight and regulation of the abortion pill, which could put women’s health at risk. They also argue that the policy could lead to an increase in the number of abortions in their states, which they oppose.

The attorneys general have asked the pharmacy chains to comply with their state laws and not distribute the abortion pill through the mail. They have also asked the pharmacy chains to provide information about their plans for dispensing the abortion pill. It remains to be seen whether the pharmacy chains will comply with the attorneys general’s requests.