New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James asked CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid to promise they will sell the abortion medication mifepristone as other state attorneys general work to block the drug's distribution.
In a March 9 letter to the CEOs of the three retail pharmacy chains, Ms. Hochul and Ms. James wrote, "Abortion is legal and protected as a fundamental right under state law, and there are no legal barriers to dispensing mifepristone in New York pharmacies."
The letter was penned a day after California revoked its $54 million contract with Walgreens. California Gov. Gavin Newson said he pulled the deal after the chain said it would not distribute mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortion, in states where attorneys general asked it not to, including some where it remains legal, according to Politico.
Now, Walgreens says it will distribute the abortion pill where it is legal to do so.
"Unfortunately, building on a national pressure campaign by anti-choice forces, 20 attorneys general have called on the pharmacies not to distribute this essential medication within their states, based on a restrictive interpretation of the law and misrepresentation of the facts," Ms. Hochul and Ms. James wrote. "We urge you not to allow these tactics to intimidate you, and to commit to making this critical medication available as widely as possible, based on a fair and unbiased interpretation of state and federal law."
"Our position has always been that, once we are certified by the FDA, Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so," a spokesperson told Becker's.
The New York leaders asked CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens to reply within 10 days.