Gov. Newsom Announces New Efforts to Protect Medication Abortion Access in California

California is taking additional actions to protect patients and the abortion medications they may need – no matter what happens in the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. California will continue to fight for people to have access to the health care they need when they need it.

SACRAMENTO – Ahead of an anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling on medication abortion, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted new actions California is taking to protect reproductive freedom, including medication abortion

New Actions Include:

Protecting pharmacists within California in dispensing Mifepristone/Mifeprex (generic) even if the Supreme Court suspends the drug’s FDA approval.

Safeguarding California’s supply chain of medication abortion drugs under California law – by preventing any legal or licensing actions against those who manufacture, transport, store, or dispense Mifepristone or Mifeprex.

Ensuring the privacy of patients and providers concerning reproductive health care performed in California, including when those patients travel or live out of state.

California has been a national leader in protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care, and April 19 announcements continue the State’s commitment to preserve this freedom.

Today’s action comes in stark contrast to the continued hostile and harmful attacks made by extremist judges and Republican leaders in other states, including:

• Governor DeSantis signing a 6-week abortion ban in the middle of the night and behind closed doors last week.
• Governor Youngkin refusing to shield menstrual data from law enforcement.
• Governor Little signing a bill making it illegal to help a minor get an abortion outside of Idaho without parental consent.
• Governor Huckabee Sanders signing a bill that builds an anti-abortion monument in the Arkansas Capitol building.
• Texas Republicans attempting to limit information about abortion on the internet.
• South Carolina Republicans attempting to punish people who get an abortion with the death penalty.

Additional Details on Key Policy California Will Pursue

Safeguarding participants in the California abortion medication supply chain from any legal or licensing actions under state law for the manufacture, transport, distribution, delivery, receipt, acquisition, sale, possession, prescription, furnishment, dispensation, repackaging, or storage of Mifepristone (or its generic Mifeprex) in the state, if FDA approval is suspended or revoked.

Clarifying that California law permits pharmacists to dispense Mifepristone and Mifeprex, regardless of FDA approval.  

Protecting California-licensed health care professionals from adverse state licensing actions for providing health care that is legal in California, but not in other states.

Ensuring that people’s private health information cannot be accessed and used against them due to enforcement of another state’s hostile laws.

Key Recent Actions

• Last week, Gov. Newsom announced the purchase of 250,560 pills of Misoprostol – creating an emergency stockpile California providers can draw from if there are any supply chain issues potentially caused by legal uncertainty.
• In September 2022, Gov. Newsom signed into law a budget and legislative package that invested more than $200 million in new funds to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care. Of this, $40 million is to cover provider costs for people who cannot afford care (known as uncompensated care), and $20 million is for an “Abortion Practical Support Fund” to help cover the costs associated with abortion care, including travel and lodging both for people in California and people forced to come to California due to restrictions in their home state. These investments will make it easier for people experiencing barriers to care to access critical health care services.

Bigger Picture: Gov. Newsom recently launched the Reproductive Freedom Alliance – a first-of-its-kind nonpartisan coalition of 22 Governors working together to protect and expand access to reproductive health care. The Alliance facilitates proactive and swift coordination across reproductive freedom states so that they can put up effective firewalls to protect and expand access to reproductive care. Recently, multiple states announced stockpiles of medication abortion drugs after California shared contract details to expedite preparations.