“Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a devastating blow to patients across America, ordering the FDA to re-instate an in-person dispensing requirement for a medication that has been safely used by millions of people for over 25 years. This disastrous decision impacts patients in all 50 states, including states led by the governors of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, where abortion is legal and protected. Let us be clear: today’s ruling does not reflect science; it reflects the political agenda of those who will not rest until they have stripped reproductive freedom from every person in this country. The patients who will be hurt first and hardest are those who already face the greatest barriers to care: people in rural communities, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, and communities of color. More than 1 in 4 people who access abortion today do so through telemedicine–this pathway is safe, private, and accessible.
As an Alliance, we made a commitment to protect reproductive freedom for the people we serve. We are taking immediate action to protect patients and providers in our states, and we will pursue every legislative, executive, and legal avenue available. We will not stop fighting until every person is able to access the reproductive health care they need and deserve.”
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About the Reproductive Freedom Alliance
The Reproductive Freedom Alliance (RFA) is a nonpartisan coalition of 23 governors working together to protect and expand reproductive freedom across the United States. By supporting state policy change, RFA has helped equip governors with the tools to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, defend the rights of patients and providers, and advance state policies to safeguard reproductive freedom. RFA is supported by GovAct, a nonpartisan nonprofit initiative that helps governors work across state lines to champion fundamental freedoms and improve people’s lives.