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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361 - 370 of 875 Results

  • Characteristics of clients who used services at Title X sites in 2017

    New Title X Regulations: Implications for Women and Family Planning Providers

    Issue Brief

    This brief reviews the Trump Administration’s new final Title X family planning regulations, compares them to the current program rules and discusses the implications of these changes for low-income women seeking family planning services and the providers that have been serving them with Title X support

  • KFF Poll: Public Opinion and Knowledge on Reproductive Health Policy

    Poll Finding

    The latest KFF Poll examines the public’s attitudes towards different facets of reproductive health care in light of recent policy changes made by the Trump administration. This poll examines attitudes towards major changes to the Title X program and attitudes toward state-level laws restricting abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected. The poll also looks at public awareness of provisions related to women’s health that are part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

  • Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker

    Tracker

    This page tracks recent state actions to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage, including approved and pending 1115 waivers, legislation that will require the state to seek federal approval through a SPA or 1115 waiver, submitted and approved SPAs, and coverage financed solely with state funds.

  • Legal Challenges to the FDA Approval of Medication Abortion Pills

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief details the Alliance of Hippocratic Medicine challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion pill, mifepristone. It provides context for the challenge, as well as what some of the possible rulings in the case could mean for access to medication abortion.

  • The Comstock Act: Implications for Abortion Care Nationwide 

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides background on the Comstock Act, reviews how it has been interpreted by the Biden Administration’s DOJ, and considers how it could be enforced by an administration that is hostile toward abortion to severely restrict the distribution of drugs and supplies used for abortion, with implications for abortion access in all states across the country.

  • Legal Challenges to State Abortion Bans Since the Dobbs Decision

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief presents an overview of the legal challenges presented in state courts since the Dobbs ruling in June 2022 and highlights some of the novel strategies that are being used to defend access to abortion in states that have enacted abortion bans.

  • The Hyde Amendment and Coverage for Abortion Services Under Medicaid in the Post-Roe Era

    Issue Brief

    This brief details the federal programs that are affected by the Hyde Amendment and laws and regulations that have a similar goal, provides estimates on the share of women insured by Medicaid affected by the law, reviews the impact of the law on their access to abortion services, and discusses the potential effect if the law were to be repealed.

  • Quote from Laurie Sobel, KFF Associate Director for Women’s Health Policy. It says, “Despite for calls from Republican leaders and anti-abortion organizations for the FDA to act quickly, the Louisiana district court has given the FDA until October 7, 2026, one month before the midterms, to file a report with the status of its review and any updated timeframe for completion. In the meantime, clinicians may continue to mail mifepristone to pregnant patients seeking abortions regardless of where they live.”

    The Latest on Medication Abortion Access: The Court Awaits the FDA Review

    Quick Insights

    Despite for calls from Republican leaders and anti-abortion organizations for the FDA to act quickly, the Louisiana district court has given the FDA until October 7, 2026, one month before the midterms, to file a report with the status of its review and any updated timeframe for completion. In the meantime, clinicians may continue to mail mifepristone to pregnant patients seeking abortions regardless of where they live.

  • Quote from Laurie Sobel, KFF’s Associate Director of Women’s Health Policy. It says, “In addition to ongoing litigation, last September the Trump administration FDA, after requests from anti-abortion organizations and state attorneys general, initiated an internal review of mifepristone’s safety. This adds uncertainty as the agency could revise dispensing rules independently of the courts. With the FDA commissioner’s resignation this week and no permanent leader in place, the timeline for completing the review remains unclear.”

    Supreme Court Leaves Mifepristone Access Unchanged – For Now

    Quick Insights

    In addition to ongoing litigation, last September the Trump administration FDA, after  requests from anti-abortion organizations and state attorneys general, initiated an internal review of mifepristone’s safety.  This adds uncertainty as the agency could revise dispensing rules independently of the courts. With the FDA commissioner’s resignation this week and no permanent leader in place, the timeline for completing the review remains unclear.