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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701 - 710 of 875 Results

  • Litigation Challenging Title X Regulations

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides an overview of the legal challenges to the Trump Administration final Title X regulations and summarizes the key positions of the plaintiffs and HHS.

  • Briefing on Access to Reproductive Health Care for Low-Income Women in Five Communities

    Event Date:
    Event

    As policy debates over the future of access to reproductive and sexual health services heat up at the national and state levels, understanding how these policies are playing out on the ground requires getting beyond the statistics. Earlier this year, KFF, working with Health Management Associates, conducted case studies and focus groups in five different communities to hear directly from providers and low-income women.  The study addressed how national, state, and local policies, as well…

  • HIV, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and Women: An Emerging Policy Landscape

    Issue Brief

    Intimate partner violence has been shown to be associated with increased risk for HIV among women, as well as poorer treatment outcomes for those already diagnosed. This brief reviews the link between IPV and HIV, key policy changes and initiatives that attempt to address these challenges.

  • Women and Health Care: A National Profile – Report

    Report

    Report - Women and Health Care: A National Profile Women and Health Care: A National Profile is a nationally representative telephone survey of 2,766 women ages 18 and older. A shorter companion survey of 507 men was also conducted. Full Report (.pdf) Report Highlights (.pdf) Introduction and Methods (.pdf) Chapter 1: The Demographics of Women (.pdf) Chapter 2: The Health of Women (.pdf) Chapter 3: Women and Health Insurance Coverage (.pdf) Chapter 4: Women's Access…

  • State Medicaid Coverage of Perinatal Services: Summary of State Survey Findings

    Issue Brief

    The report examines state Medicaid program policies regarding coverage of pregnancy-related services. It details state-level Medicaid eligibility and enrollment policies for pregnant women, as well as scope of coverage for prenatal and screening services, delivery and post-partum care, educational classes and support services.

  • The U.S. Government’s Efforts to Address Global Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health: The Global Health Initiative and Beyond

    Other Post

    This report examines the U.S. role in improving global maternal, newborn, and child health, including the heightened focus placed on these issues by the Administration’s Global Health Initiative. It provides an overview of international efforts and a detailed look at the U.S. government’s response to date, reviews U.S. funding trends for maternal and child health, U.S. agencies’ related activities, the contribution of key U.S. global health efforts, and U.S. participation in international multilateral efforts. It…

  • Will 1999 Be The Year For Mifepristone (RU-486) And, An Update on Women’s Other Options for Very Early Abortion

    Fact Sheet

    While there has been much attention to the few abortions that occur late in pregnancy, there has been little focus on what options are available during the early weeks, even days, of pregnancy, when most women seek abortions. The drugs mifepristone (also known as RU-486) and misoprostol have been available in France, England, and Sweden for much of the last decade as an earlier medical alternative to surgical abortion. Since becoming available, an estimated one-half…