Health Care — What will happen to mifepristone now?

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View Online Health Care Health Care The Big Story  What is mifepristone's future? A flurry of confusion and outrage has emerged in the wake of the ruling from Texas blocking authorization for mifepristone, with lawmakers and regulators parsing what could happen next. © AP Photo/Justin Rex U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a ruling last Friday ordering the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to block authorization of mifepristone, a drug commonly used for abortion early in pregnancy.   Kacsmaryk gave the federal government seven days to appeal his ruling, which the Justice Department (DOJ) followed through with on Monday.   The DOJ said the ruling had "upended decades of reliance" by blocking the FDA's approval, which has been in effect for more than 20 years.   Some Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), have since called for the FDA to ignore the ruling from Kacsmaryk.   The agency retains discretion over how it enforces laws and regulations and could potentially choose not to impose penalties on healthcare providers who prescribe and distribute mifepristone, which physicians have repeatedly argued has been proven to be safe and effective.   This would not be an unprecedented action on the part of the FDA. The agency issued guidance on enforcement discretion last year during the infant formula shortage crisis, easing import rules in order to boost supply.   Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials have so far signaled that the federal government plans to fight this decision in court.   HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said on Sunday that he believes an appeal will prevail, though he said all options are on the table. Kamara Jones, HHS's Assistant Secretary for the Public Affairs, said disregarding a binding decision would set a "dangerous precedent."   Read more at thehill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Biden signs bill ending national COVID-19 emergency President Biden on Monday signed a GOP-led resolution bringing an end to the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said. The resolution passed the House despite almost 200 House Democrats voting against it after the White House said it strongly opposed the measure, though it did not threaten to veto it if the bill passed. The bill later passed the Senate in a bipartisan 68-23 vote. The White House had …  Full Story What to expect as legal battle heats up over Texas abortion ruling The future of mifepristone, a common medication used for abortion, is on ice after federal judges issued dueling decisions Friday night involving the pill's legality. Two decades after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the prescribing and distribution of mifepristone, a federal judge in Texas suspended the agency's approval in a case fraught with accusations of partisanship. President Biden indicated that …  Full Story Drug companies slam Texas judge's ruling on abortion pill Nearly 300 biotechnology and pharmaceutical company executives on Monday slammed a ruling from a federal judge in Texas that invalidated the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decades-old approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Gun deaths skyrocket 50 percent in two years among US children, teens: analysis Gun deaths among U.S. children and teens jumped 50 percent in between 2019 and 2021, a new analysis found. A Pew Research Center analysis published last week found that gun deaths among children increased from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021. The analysis, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the gun death rate also rose from 2.4 deaths per 100,000 children under 18 years old in 2019 to 3.5 per 100,000 in 2021. Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Michigan health insurance market plans will still offer no-cost preventive benefits (for now) (Michigan Radio) Ohio health officials open permanent health clinic in East Palestine (WLWT) Bill looks to make it easier to call for help when there's an overdose (North Carolina Health News) What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Special Medicaid funds help most states, but prompt oversight concerns (Kaiser Health News) More girls are being diagnosed with autism (The New York Times) DEA proposal sparks concerns about access to telehealth (Roll Call) What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Jim Jordan subpoenas FBI Director Wray House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray in connection with a now-withdrawn memo that explored … Read more Goldman slams Jim Jordan over planned NYC hearing: 'not welcome in my district' Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) slammed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) over the House Judiciary Committee's planned hearing in New York City next week, telling … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: FDA needs to protect vulnerable newborns from aluminum toxicity North Carolina's Medicaid expansion comes with inconvenient truths Stigma keeps US youth at high risk for HIV/AIDS   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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