Massachusetts stockpiling abortion pill to protect access to mifepristone
BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is stockpiling the abortion pill mifepristone to make sure it's available to women during a legal battle over the drug.
On Friday, a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling that suspends the Food and Drug Administration's approval for the pill, which has been used for decades. The Department of Justice has filed an appeal against the judge's ruling.
At a news conference Monday, Healey said she asked the University of Massachusetts to buy 15,000 doses of mifepristone just in case it gets banned.
"When it goes into effect, it could ban mifepristone nationwide including here in Massachusetts where abortion is legal," Healey told reporters. "We are going to make sure we have enough mifepristone to cover women in the state, for as long as they need."
The doses are expected to arrive by the end of the week. Healey's administration is dedicating $1 million to support providers within the Department of Public Health in paying for the doses.
"That's sufficient to ensure coverage for well over a year," said the governor.
"We were able to mobilize in 24 hours. This is unheard of," said UMass Amherst chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.
Healey also signed an executive order that she says will protect medication abortion including mifepristone, under state law.
"Providers, including pharmacists, can continue to stock and dispense mifepristone and we will continue to protect providers and patients from consequences for accessing this essential care," she said.
Healey said mifepristone is safe and effective, and the "gold standard of medication abortion care."
"This political intervention into basic medical care hurts women at what can be a difficult and heartbreaking time, putting those experiencing pregnancy loss through greater comfort, greater pain, and in some cases threatening their lives," Healey said. "It harms patients, undermines medical expertise and takes away freedom. It's an attempt to punish, to shame, to marginalize women. It's unnecessary, it's terrible."
"Mifepristone is and will remain safe - legal - and available in the commonwealth of Massachusetts," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who attended the announcement.
The Texas ruling was paused for seven days to allow the federal government to appeal, which the Biden Administration did late on Friday night. A judge in Washington state also issued a preliminary injunction in response to the ruling.
The decision will ultimately move to the Supreme Court. Questions remain though about just how long states can legally provide access to the drug if it is banned.
WBZ-TV asked Attorney General Andrea Campbell how long she believes Massachusetts believes it can extend access to mifepristone.
"As far as we're concerned as long as possible," Campbell said.
If the abortion pill were banned and the stockpile ran out, doctors would need to adjust treatment for patients managing their pregnancies.
"Medication abortion is a two medication regimen, so it includes mifepristone and misoprostol. You can use [misoprostol] alone but it's not as effective," said Dr. Megan Evans, an obstetrician and gynecologist with Tufts Medical Center.
She noted that mifepristone is also a key treatment for miscarriage management.
"It is one of the safest medications available, and it's probably one of the most studied medications as well," she said.
Other health care providers in the state have also stepped up to make more purchases of mifepristone. The pill is still readily available at this time.