Texas State Lawmaker Requests Information On Licenses For Dispensing Mifepristone

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 28 Oct 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Texas state Rep. Frank Corte (R) earlier this month requested that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) provide information about whether medical facilities that regularly dispense mifepristone for medical abortion procedures should be licensed by the state, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Texas law requires licenses for medical facilities that perform more than 50 abortion procedures annually. An increasing number of providers have been using mifepristone for early abortions since FDA approved the drug in 2000.

In a letter dated Oct. 5, Corte wrote, "What [providers are] doing is the same thing as a surgical process, with the same end result. We need to have a clear understanding of what our law says." He said the "question it goes back to" is "[w]ho are these folks (dispensing the drug)? They may be very qualified to dispense the item, but they need to be licensed facilities so we know for sure."

Holly Morgan, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of North Texas, called Corte's request part of an ongoing effort to restrict access to abortion. Morgan said, "From our point of view, the anti-choice people are perpetually looking for creative ways to block women from having a legal abortion," adding, "It sounds like he's doing something to try and label and shame doctors from doing what is their legal right and obligation as physicians." Morgan said the request would have limited impact on physicians' practices, adding, "Anyone who does offer [mifepristone] already has that distinction (as an abortion provider) in their practice. I'm not sure what the point is."

Corte said, "What [Abbott] says will tell the Legislature if there needs to be legislation or not." He added, "I'm not trying to make providers stop doing what they're doing if they believe that's what they want to do. But I do think that as medical procedures change, those seeking medical treatment should have licensed folks doing that."

The Star-Telegram reports that Abbott's office has 180 days to respond to Corte's request (Madigan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10/23).

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