Federal Policy
FDA Delays Mifepristone Safety Review Until March
The FDA disclosed in a Wednesday court filing that it will not complete its safety review of the abortion drug mifepristone until March, and will not impose new restrictions on the drug before then. The disclosure comes amid pressure from anti-abortion activists who have grown impatient with the pace of the agency's review. The delay means current prescribing and dispensing rules for mifepristone remain unchanged in the interim. The review's eventual outcome could affect access rules that touch Medicaid-covered reproductive health services in states where the program covers medication abortion.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agencies and managed care plans covering reproductive health services should expect no change to mifepristone access or billing rules until at least March, when the FDA's review could prompt new restrictions.