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 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.

An Update on Medicaid, Title X and Planned Parenthood

This brief provides an update on Planned Parenthood clinic closures and participation in the Title X program amid substantial policy changes resulting in funding reductions. These changes include the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the withholding of federal Title X funding to Planned Parenthood clinics.

SELECTED RESOURCES

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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  • Web Briefing: The Sexual and Reproductive Health Landscape in the US: Current Trends and the Impact of the Pandemic

    Event Date:
    Event

    At 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 21, KFF will hold a web briefing to highlight key findings on sexual and reproductive health from KFF’s national Women’s Health Survey. The presentation will be followed by a discussion with leaders in sexual and reproductive care about what those findings mean for policy and practice, how the pandemic has begun to reshape the provision of sexual and reproductive health care, and implications for the future of the…

  • New Brief Explains Key Elements of the Biden Administration’s Proposed Title X Regulations

    News Release

    On April 15th, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published proposed regulations for the Title X federal family planning program to replace the Trump Administration’s rules, which prohibited abortion referrals and co-located abortion services. The Biden Administration proposes to largely re-instate the Title X regulations that were in place from 1993-2019, with new additions focusing on “ensuring access to equitable, affordable, client-centered, quality family planning services” for all clients. HHS is accepting public…

  • Maternal Health in the Build Back Better Act

    Policy Watch

    This policy watch highlights the different provisions and potential impact on parents and children in America. From expanding Medicaid postpartum coverage to establishing a national paid family leave policy, the BBBA could provide more support to states and community organizations working to improve maternal health.

  • Medicaid Coverage for Women

    Issue Brief

    This data note presents key data points describing the current state of the Medicaid program as it affects women.

  • Rebuilding the Title X Family Planning Network Will Take Time, Despite Biden Administration Actions Issuing New Regulations and Additional Funding

    News Release

    A new KFF analysis highlights state-level data on the status of the Title X family planning program on the eve of the implementation of the new Biden Administration regulations for the program. To date, five states still have no Title X clinics, and seven states are still operating with less than 25% of their clinic network. Overall, 39 states experienced a drop in the number of participating clinics since 2018. The Trump Administration’s Department of…

  • Majority of Voters Say Overturning Roe Won’t Impact the Likelihood of Them Voting in Midterm Elections, But 1 in 5 of Voters and 1 in 4 Younger Women Voters Say it Will Motivate Them More And They Will Only Vote For A Pro-Choice Candidate

    News Release

    Majorities Oppose State Laws Criminalizing Abortion, Even Those Living In States Where Abortion Will Become Illegal If Roe Is Overturned Misconceptions Around Abortions Persist With Most Women of Reproductive Age Unaware Of Medication Abortion And Many Confusing It With Emergency Contraception More than a third (37%) of voters say that they would be more motivated to vote in November’s Midterm Election if the Supreme Court overturns the Roe v. Wade decision establishing a constitutional right…

  • Medication Abortion in a Post-Roe v. Wade America

    Event Date:
    Event

    On Wednesday, July 20th, a panel of experts joined series moderator Larry Levitt in a 45-minute discussion about the use and safety of medication abortion and the current and future policy and practical challenges for accessing it across the country.

  • A Look at Key Maternal and Infant Health Disparities Among Black People

    Feature

    Due to systemic and overt discrimination, Black people are disproportionately affected by high maternal and infant morbidities and mortality. In addition to legislation, addressing systemic discrimination, implicit bias and racism will be integral to achieving equity in maternal health outcomes.

  • Limited Access to Paid Family Leave

    Feature

    Most people will need to take time off work to care for themselves or their families at some point, but only one in five (21%) workers have access to paid family leave through their employer. Congress is considering creating a universal paid family and medical leave program as part of the Build Back Better Act.

  • Community Health Centers and Family Planning in an Era of Policy Uncertainty

    Report

    Community health centers play a major role in furnishing reproductive health care to women living in low-income and medically underserved communities. Along with independent freestanding family planning clinics including Planned Parenthood health centers (which also may receive Title X funding), and local public health agencies, community health centers are part of a publicly supported provider network that serve an estimated one in three low-income women. This report, an update of an earlier study conducted in…