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

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.

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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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  • Online Contraceptive and STI Services During COVID-19: What are the options?

    News Release

    A new KFF issue brief provides an overview of online options for contraceptive and STI services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource also includes an interactive table that shows which platforms are available in each state and which accept private insurance or Medicaid.

  • KFF Examines Implications of Dobbs-era Abortion Bans and Restrictions for Miscarriage or Stillbirth

    News Release

    In a new brief, KFF explores how abortion bans and restrictions in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision can further complicate pregnancy loss.  Pregnancy loss, which includes miscarriage and stillbirth, is common, and for many people, it is a physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing experience. The medical interventions used to manage miscarriages and stillbirths are often the same medicines and procedures used in abortions, which means abortion bans and restrictions can end…

  • KFF Revisits Women Voters Previously Surveyed in June and Finds Significant Shifts in VP Harris’ Favor Across a Range of Key Election Issues

    News Release

    In a special follow-up poll of the same women voters who were previously interviewed in June (before President Biden announced he wouldn’t run for reelection), KFF finds substantial shifts in favor of Vice President Harris across a range of key election issues, including the handling of rising household and health care costs, as well as increased enthusiasm for the candidates and motivation to vote. As the presidential election draws near, the survey also shows a…

  • KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll Pilot

    Poll Finding

    The poll reveals that at least four in ten U.S. adults saying they’ve heard each of 10 specific false claims about COVID-19, reproductive health, and gun violence. While relatively small shares definitely believes the false claims, many more are uncertain about them. The survey also examines the public’s social and traditional media use and trust in sources of health information.

  • Agenda

    Other Post

    Are Schools Just Saying No Are Schools "Just Saying No?" Is Abstinence-Only the Trend in Sex Education? And, Who Influences Policy? Tuesday, December 14 9:30 am-11:30 am National Press Club First Amendment Room 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor Washington, D.C. 9:30 amRegistration 9:50 amWelcome/Introductions 10:00 amNew Research: Findings from Two New National Surveys of Public School Administrators about Sex Education Today Cory L. Richards, Vice President for Public Policy, The Alan Guttmacher Institute, will…

  • Speaker Biographies-20000418-bioseib-doc

    Other Post

    SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES MOLLYANN BRODIE, PH.D. Mollyann Brodie is Vice President, Director of Public Opinion and Media Research at the Kaiser Family Foundation. She directs a variety of public knowledge and survey-related projects. Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Brodie was a Health Policy Fellow and Assistant Director of the Program on Public Opinion and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health, where she co-edited Volume IV of the series on The Future of American…

  • SexSmarts Survey – “Safer Sex”, Condoms and “the Pill”

    Poll Finding

    As part of an on-going public information partnership called SexSmarts, seventeen and the Kaiser Family Foundation conduct nationally-representative surveys of teens 15 to 17 on issues related to their sexual health. This survey examines teens' knowledge and attitudes about "safer sex" and contraception (November 2000).Summary of Findings (.pdf)Toplines/Survey (.pdf)

  • Women’s Health Data Book: A Profile of Women’s Health in the United States

    Fact Sheet

    The Women's Health Data Book: A Profile of Women's Health in the United States, offers the latest data and trends on the wide range of health issues that affect women across their life spans. Published by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, the Data Book is edited by Dawn Misra, Ph.D. This book addresses social and economic factors and provides up-to-date information on chronic conditions, reproductive health, mental health, violence,…