DeSantis Administration to Pharmacies: Do Not Fill Prescriptions for Abortion Pills

The alert warned that willfully violating the abortion laws could result in criminal penalties. “It’s another example of DeSantis weaponizing every state agency to pursue his political agenda,” says Rep. Anna V. Eskamani.

After the Food and Drug Administration announced the decision to allow retail pharmacies to stock and dispense Mifepristone in states where allowed, the Florida Agency of Healthcare Administration (AHCA) warned healthcare providers not to distribute the so-called abortion pills.

Mifepristone differs from Plan B, which is known as the morning-after pill. Plan B is considered more of an emergency contraceptive and is available at Florida pharmacies.

“The Agency issues this alert to remind providers that they must continue to comply with Florida laws that govern the performance of abortions,” read the provider alert sent by the agency. 

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In Florida, where abortion is legal until 15 weeks of gestation, only a physician can terminate a pregnancy after criteria is met. In addition to getting the pill or procedure done by a doctor, a patient in Florida has to wait 24 hours after counseling. 

Florida pharmacists are not permitted to distribute the pills, said Gov. Ron DeSantis.  

“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,” DeSantis said.

A Swift Response

“AHCA could be focused on solving actual health issues like the high rates of suicide among our youth and disparities that exist along economic and racial lines,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, the progressive Democrat from Orlando, Florida, told Floricua. “Instead, they are bullying providers—including providers who don’t even provide abortion care—on abortion access.” 

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The Florida agency’s email alert warned that willfully violating the abortion laws could result in criminal penalties. It further added that the state would refer “any evidence of criminal activity” to local law enforcement authorities.

“It’s another example of DeSantis weaponizing every state agency to pursue his political agenda and strip us away of our freedoms and rights,” added Eskamani.