ALBANY, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul has underscored several initiatives by New York State to protect access to abortion care, including medication abortion, amid legal challenges at the federal level.
In June, Governor Hochul signed legislation allowing New York doctors to prescribe medication abortion across state lines without fear of litigation, even in states where abortion services are outlawed or restricted. This move aims to ensure that doctors, medical providers, and facilitators in New York can continue to provide telehealth services and medication abortion to patients outside the state.Further efforts include the New York State Department of Health securing 150,000 doses of medication abortion to prepare for potential increased need if mifepristone is banned nationwide. Governor Hochul previously announced that the State will stockpile the abortion medication misoprostol as part of ongoing efforts to protect access to abortion. This includes a five-year supply of 150,000 doses and a commitment of up to $20 million to providers to support access to other methods of care if mifepristone is removed from the market.In May, legislation was also signed to ensure that every student enrolled in a SUNY or CUNY college has access to medication abortion on campus. This includes either employing or contracting with authorized individuals to prescribe abortion prescription drugs or providing students with information and referrals to authorized providers.Governor Hochul also established a nation-leading $35 million Abortion Provider Support Fund to protect abortion access following the Dobbs decision.These actions come in response to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that attempted to limit access to mifepristone by requiring an in-person visit for its prescription and prohibiting its delivery through the mail.“As we continue to witness anti-choice extremists restrict access to reproductive care like medication abortion in states across the nation, mifepristone remains legal and available here in New York,” Governor Hochul stated.The ruling does not have an immediate effect on access to mifepristone in New York, but the issue is expected to go before the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming months.These comprehensive measures reflect New York’s commitment to maintaining safe, accessible, and legal abortion care in the state, positioning it as a safe harbor for those in need of reproductive care, even as challenges arise in other parts of the country.