Biden releases memo on abortion pill access

The Biden administration is working to make abortion pills available in 50 states following a Sunday memo from the president. President Joe Biden directed officials from Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, along with Attorney General Merrick Garland, to give new guidance on access to abortion pills. The three offices were asked to identify barriers to getting abortion pills in various states and give suggestions on how to make them more accessible. 

How common are medication abortions? So-called medication abortions account for more than half of all abortions in the United States, according to statistics reported by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, which directly polls abortion centers. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration said it would allow retail pharmacies to start carrying Mifepristone, a drug often used in medication abortions. CVS and Walgreens said they would start carrying the drug.

Dig deeper: Read the report by Addie Offereins and Leah Savas in World Magazine on pharmacy chains applying to provide abortion pills.