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.

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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  • Online Resources-Online.doc-20000613a-Online-doc

    Other Post

    Online Resources KFF Resources Daily Reproductive Health Reports on RU-486 and MifepristoneOffers a retrospective look at the debate, using the archives of this daily report.Abortion, Issue Update May 1999 Highlights the clinical and political issues regarding abortion.From the Patient's Perspective: the Quality of Abortion Care May 1999 - Women's views and perceptions of the quality of care they have received.Abortion in the U.S., Fact SheetSeptember 1998 - Offers some useful background statistics on abortion in…

  • Briefing Resource List-20000418-briefingresourcesapril_-doc

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    Briefing Resource List The Gender of Politics:How (and How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?Tuesday, April 18, 2000Briefing ParticipantsOther ResourcesAnalysts and ResearchersPollstersWomen's Political OrganizationsVoter Education/InformationAdditional Voter Education WebsitesNational Political PartiesPolitical Analysts/StrategistsEmerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts Briefing Participants Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Media ResearchTina Hoff, Director, Public Health Information and CommunicationsHenry J. Kaiser Family Foundation2400 Sand Hill RoadMenlo Park, CA 94025Press contact: Amy WeitzTel. 650.854.9400Fax. 650.854.7465E-mail: aweitz@kff.orgWebsite:…

  • If The FDA Approves Mifepristone…What Happens Next? Will Doctors Provide It? Will Women Want It? And, What Effect Will it Have on Abortion Politics?

    Report

    For almost 20 years, women's health advocates have been pushing for U.S. approval of mifepristone (also known as "RU-486"), a non-surgical abortion method that European women have used for a decade. Now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seems poised to give the final go-ahead, the big question is: So what happens next? Will mifepristone make abortion more "private," allowing women and doctors to avoid the threats and protests that have plagued many clinics?…

  • Access to Care for Low-Income Women: The Impact of Medicaid

    Other Post

    Health coverage is of critical importance to low-income women. This study was undertaken to assess how low-income women with Medicaid, private insurance, or no insurance vary with regard to personal characteristics, health status, and health utilization. Data are from a telephone interview survey of a representative cross-sectional sample of 5,200 low-income women in Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. On the whole, low-income women were found to experience considerable barriers to care; however, uninsured low-income…

  • Perceptions and Reality: How Safe Is the Pill? The Role of the Media, Healthcare Providers, and the

    Other Post

    Q4a. Thinking about where you get information about contraceptionand birth control, was your physician a major source, minor sourceor not a source at all of information about contraception/birthcontrol for you? (Rotate) NationalMenWomenMajor source 48% 32% 64% Minor source 17% 19% 15% Not a source at all 32% 46% 19% Don't know 2% 2% * Don't know 1% 1% * Q4b. Thinking about where you get information about contraceptionand birth control, was nurse or other health…

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases in America:  How Many and at What Cost? News Release

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    New Estimate of Annual Cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in US: STD Epidemic Bigger Than Previously Thought, But Experts Say There Is "Good News" That Higher Estimate Result Of Improved Detection Two STDs -- HPV and Trichomoniasis -- Account for Two Thirds of New Cases; Cost to Treat Current Infections in U.S. Estimated at $8.4 Billion Per Year Embargoed For Release Until: 9:30 A.M. ET, Wednesday, December 2, 1998 New York, NY - A panel…

  • Emergency Contraception

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    Teenage Sexual and Reproductive Behavior in the United States The Changing Face of Teen Sexual Activity and Unplanned Pregnancy Over the past two decades, the pregnancy rate among sexually experienced teenage girls aged 15-19 has declined by 19%, indicating that many are doing a better job at using contraception. But, because the percentage of teens who have had sex has been steadily increasing at the same time, in real terms, the problem of teen pregnancy…

  • National Survey of Americans and Health Care Providers on Emergency Contraception

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    1997 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Americans on Emergency Contraception Conducted for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation By Princeton Survey Research Associates Topline For Men May 13-May 26, 1997 Introduction: Hello, my name is _____, and I'm calling from Princeton Survey Research of Princeton, New Jersey. We are conducting a confidential national opinion survey about some important health issues. N = 300 men, age 18-44 Margin of error: plus or minus 5 percent *…

  • Talking about STDs with Health Professionals: Women’s Experiences – Toplines/Survey

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    Talking about STDs with Health Professionals: Women's Experiences Glamour/Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey Methodology Talking about STDS with Health Professionals: Women's Experiences was conducted for the Kaiser Family Foundation and Glamour by Market Facts, Inc. The results are based on telephone interviews conducted between May 27 through June 1, 1997 with a sample of 482 women ages 18-44 who had been to a new doctor within the last year for gynecological or obstetrical care. These…