Women's Health Policy

ABORTION IN THE U.S.

KFF infographic explaining who regulates mifepristone, showing four entities and their roles: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves and regulates medications for safety and effectiveness; state legislatures pass laws that can restrict or protect access; courts rule on legal cases affecting regulation; and Congress can pass federal legislation influencing regulation.

Louisiana v. FDA: Access to Mifepristone Back at the Supreme Court

Louisiana sued the FDA in October 2025, claiming the FDA’s 2023 regulatory change eliminating the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in-person—allowing it to be mailed or dispensed at retail pharmacies—harm the state's ability to enforce its abortion ban. This brief reviews the Louisiana v. FDA case now before the Supreme Court, and provides an overview of the other pending litigation involving mifepristone, as well as the mounting tension between states seeking to protect abortion and those banning the provision of abortion.

CONTRACEPTIve care IN THE U.S.

New and noteworthy

Over-the-Counter Oral Contraceptive Pills

In July 2023, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive pill to become available over the counter (OTC) without a doctor’s prescription. This issue brief provides an overview of OTC oral contraceptives and laws and policies related to insurance coverage.

featured

A promotional image for the the KFF Health Policy 101 Issues in Women’s Health chapter

Health Policy Issues in Women’s Health

Examine the core health coverage and access issues —shaped by federal and state policies—that affect women’s health today, including health coverage and costs, reproductive health services, maternal health, mental health, and intimate partner violence.

State Profiles for Women’s Health

Explore the latest national and state-specific data and policies on women’s health. Topics include health status, insurance and Medicaid coverage, use of preventive services, sexual health, maternal and infant health, and abortion policies. Many indicators provide state-level information for women of different racial and ethnic groups.

The essentials
  • Women’s Health Insurance Coverage

    This factsheet reviews major sources of coverage for women residing in the U.S., discusses the ACA's impact on coverage, and the coverage challenges that many women continue to face.
  • Medicaid Coverage for Women

    This data note presents key data points describing the current state of the Medicaid program as it affects women, including eligibility, reproductive health, chronic conditions, and more.
  • Dobbs: What are the Implications for Racial Disparities?

    This analysis examines the implications of the Dobbs decision and state restrictions on abortion coverage for racial disparities in access to care and health outcomes.
  • State Health Facts: Women's Health Indicators

    Information on women’s health status, utilization of services, health insurance coverage, family planning and childbirth, and abortion statistics and policies.
  • Key Facts on Abortion in the United States

    This report answers some key questions about abortion in the United States and presents data collected before the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

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181 - 190 of 871 Results

  • Vital Signs Index Survey: No. 2

    Other Post

    Topline Results The Vital Signs Index is a monthly nationally representative survey of women on health policy issues. The results of the survey will inform the news segments and be made available to a wider audience of policy makers, health industry leaders, advocates and journalists. Vital Signs Index Survey Topline

  • KFF- What Teens Know and Don’t (But Should) About Sexually Transmitted Diseases

    Report

    A random-sample national survey of 400 teens, ages 15 to 17 years old about their awareness of and attitudes toward sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) - focusing primarily on STDs other than HIV/AIDS. The survey was conducted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Kaiser Family Foundation, MTV: Music Television and TEEN PEOPLE. TOPLINE Download CHARTPACK Download

  • Health News Index – January/February 2000

    Poll Finding

    Health News Index January/February, 2000The January/February 2000 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health, Health News Index includes questions about major health stories covered in the news, including questions about the presidential candidate's health care proposals and their stands on abortion as well as a report on the declining rate of abortion. The survey is based on a national random sample of 1,006 Americans conducted February 4-8, 2000 which measures public knowledge…

  • Emergency Contraception in California – Survey Report

    Report

    As the FDA continues to deliberate about whether emergency contraception will be made available "over-the-counter" without a prescription, a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey examines Californian's awareness of and experiences with emergency contraception, inlcuding findings on the state's "pharmacy access " program. California's "pharmacy access" program permits women to receive emergency contraception from participating pharmacists directly without contacting a physician , while the "over-the-counter" option the FDA is considering would allow people to obtain emergency…

  • Emergency Contraception: All Talk and No Action?

    Fact Sheet

    A fact sheet, Q&A and resource list prepared for a briefing held for journalists in New York City on December 18, 1997 in New York City as part of a joint program by The Alan Guttmacher Institute, The Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Press Foundation. This program focused on efforts to break through barriers to emergency contraception, as well as future opportunities for expanding access. New surveys conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation of…

  • Women’s Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence

    Issue Brief

    This analysis provides data on women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and reports on a range of health topics affecting women who experienced IPV in the past five years, including their health care needs and use, barriers, and mental health.

  • Medicaid Family Planning Programs, 2012

    Feature

    medicaid-family-planning-programs-2012-womenshealth Download Source Guttmacher Institute, Medicaid Family Planning Eligibility Expansions, State Policies in Brief, November 2012

  • Many States Look to Strengthen Medicaid Coverage for Maternal Health in FY2022, According to New KFF Report

    News Release

    Medicaid funds more than four in ten births in the United States and more than half in several states. A new KFF report of results from a survey of 41 states and DC finds that on the whole, states offer broad coverage for basic pregnancy-related services. Most states also reported that they are working on ways to strengthen Medicaid coverage of maternity services and are trying to respond to concerns about coverage continuity and scope…

  • Contraception in the United States: A Closer Look at Experiences, Preferences, and Coverage

    Report

    This report provides a close examination of reproductive age (18-49) females' (including those who identify as women and other genders) experiences with contraception, insurance coverage, contraceptive preferences, and interactions with the health care system based on an analysis of the 2022 KFF Women's Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of females ages 18-64 in the United States.