Abortion Bans May Limit Essential Medications for Women with Chronic Conditions
Issue Brief
This analysis uses the 2019 IBM MarketScan claims data to look at prescriptions of methotrexate and misoprostol, two drugs that can be used to terminate pregnancies, but are also used to manage chronic conditions like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and abnormal bleeding. These drugs may be restricted in response to state abortion bans, which we find will disproportionately affect women of reproductive age who make up the majority of those who rely on these drugs.