CVS and Walgreens will start allotting the abortion capsule mifepristone this March, the businesses confirmed to TIME.
The pharmacies obtained a certification to supply mifepristone—which is approved by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration to terminate a being pregnant via 10 weeks of gestation, and is usually used with misoprostol—to prospects with a prescription in compliance with federal and state legal guidelines. The information was first reported by the New York Times.
Walgreens mentioned that it’ll begin to dispense mifepristone inside per week at choose places in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois. CVS will roll out the capsule in Massachusetts and Rhode Island “within the weeks forward,” CVS spokeswoman Amy Thibault informed TIME over e-mail.
“We’ve obtained certification to dispense mifepristone at CVS Pharmacy and plan to fill prescriptions for this treatment in states the place legally permissible,” Thibault wrote. “We’re working with producers and suppliers to safe the treatment and aren’t but allotting it in any of our pharmacies.”
CVS mentioned that they plan to “increase to extra states, “the place allowed by legislation, on a rolling foundation.” Walgreens spokesperson Marty Maloney additionally confirmed to TIME over e-mail the corporate’s plan to supply mifepristone in a “phased rollout” to make sure the “high quality, security, and privateness for our sufferers, suppliers, and staff members.”
The way forward for mifepristone lies within the Supreme Courtroom, which can hear a case about restrictions on its use this spring. The Biden Administration is hoping the court docket overturns an appellate ruling that will restrict entry to the capsule by mail, amongst different disputes. CVS and Walgreens prospects won’t be able to obtain the capsule by mail, spokespeople from the 2 firms confirmed to TIME.
Since earlier than the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion tablets have been the most common technique to finish a being pregnant.
