House Republican Bill Would Undo FDA’s Abortion Pill Rule Changes

House Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday that would undo recent rule changes from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing for more widespread access to medication abortion, The Daily Signal first reported.

In early January, the FDA made a regulatory change allowing retail pharmacies to offer mifepristone — the first pill used in a two-drug medication abortion regimen — in-store and by mail order, though patients will still need a prescription from a certified health care provider. At the same time, the FDA officially removed the in-person requirement from its regulatory rule book for mifepristone, meaning women will continue to be able to obtain a prescription for the abortion pill via telemedicine.