Ron DeSantis on Medication Abortion

DeSantis Medication Abortion

DeSantis Administration Warned Pharmacies Not To Distribute Abortion Pills

Florida AHCA Told Pharmacies That It Was Illegal to Dispense Abortion Pills According To Florida Law

Florida Agency For Healthcare Administration (AHCA) Warned Pharmacies To Not Distribute Abortion Pills, Said Pharmacies “Must Continue To Comply With Florida Laws That Govern The Performance Of Abortions.” According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “With pharmacies in some states preparing to dispense abortion pills, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration sent a letter Thursday to all state healthcare providers warning them that do so in Florida is illegal. ‘The Agency issues this alert to remind providers that they must continue to comply with Florida laws that govern the performance of abortions,’ the Florida agency said via an email.” [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 1/15/23]

AHCA Referenced A Florida State Law Which Said Only A Physician Could Terminate A Pregnancy Not A Pharmacist, And Must Comply With A 24-Hour Waiting Period. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “In Florida, abortion is legal up until 15 weeks of gestation. However, state law says only a physician can terminate a pregnancy, not a pharmacist, and it must be done in person after a 24-hour waiting period. ACHA’s warning also referenced a Florida law stating ‘It is unlawful for any person to perform or assist in performing an abortion on a person, except in an emergency care situation, other than in a validly licensed hospital or abortion clinic or in a physician’s office.’” [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 1/15/23]

AHCA Said Anyone That Willfully Violated The State’s Abortion Laws Could Be Charged In Criminal Penalties By Local Law Enforcement. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “In its email, the Florida agency’s alert made clear that willfully violating the abortion laws could result in criminal penalties and that the state would refer ‘any evidence of criminal activity’ to local law enforcement.’” [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 1/15/23]

• AHCA’s Warning Followed USDA’s Decision To Allow Retail Pharmacies To Stock And Dispense Abortion Pills In States Which Allowed Abortion Access. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “The warning follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s early January decision allowing retail pharmacies to stock and dispense abortion pills in states that allow the procedure. Pharmacy chains including Walgreens and CVS both said they plan to get certified to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone in states where allowed. Mifepristone can be used to end an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation. It recently became the most common method of terminating a pregnancy in the United States.” [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 1/15/23]

DeSantis, Himself, Warned Pharmacies Not To Distribute Abortion Pills

DeSantis On Warning Pharmacies Not To Distribute Abortion Pills: “In Terms Of CVS, Walgreens, I Don’t Know About Publix, But They Are Not Going To Be Offering That In The State Of Florida.” According to CBS News Miami, “Just a few weeks ago the FDA cleared the way for pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to fill a prescription for abortion pills, however, in Florida, that won't be the case. […] ‘In terms of CVS, Walgreens, I don't know about Publix, but they are not going to be offering that in the state of Florida,’ Governor Ron DeSantis said.” [CBS News Miami, 1/16/23]