Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Applaud FDA Decision to Suspend Restriction on Mifepristone

Washington, DC–Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) today applauded theFood and Drug Administration's (FDA)letterto theAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)indicating that it will halt enforcement ofthe medically unnecessaryin-person dispensing requirement formifepristone.

"It is cruel to restrict access to abortion care at any time, but it is especially dangerous during a global health crisis,"said the lawmakers."The unnecessaryin-person dispensing requirement forces many patients to takepublic transportationortravellong distances to receive care—increasing their risk of exposure toCOVID-19 while also putting medicalstaffat risk with increasedin-person interactions.

"We applaud the FDA'sdecision to suspend enforcement of thein-person dispensing requirement from theRisk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) on mifepristone, which will helpensurethe safety of patients and increaseaccess toessential careduring the pandemic and beyond. We urge the FDA to conduct a full review of the restrictions around mifepristone to ensure that patients aren't subjected to medically unnecessary obstacles once the public health emergency ends."

Co-ChairsDeGetteandLeeled 155 membersin filing an amicus briefin the case ofAmerican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists v. United States Food and Drug Administration (ACOG v. FDA),challengingthe FDA's in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers also led pro-choice members in a letteropposing the previous administration's refusal torelax rules around medication abortion.