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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701 - 710 of 875 Results

  • 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? – Resource List

    Other Post

    Resource List Resource List If the FDA Approves Mifepristone . . . What Happens Next? Will Doctors Provide It? Do Women Want It? And, What Effect Will It Have on Abortion Politics? Tuesday, June 13, 2000 BRIEFING PARTICIPANTSOTHER RESOURCESResearch and Medical PracticeLegal and Political IssuesEmerging Issues in Reproductive Health, Program Contacts Briefing Participants Sandra P. Arnold Wendy Chavkin, MD, MPH Tina Hoff Carole Joffe, PhD Eric A. Schaff, MD Other Resources Research and Medical Practice:…

  • Survey on Women’s Health in the U.S.

    Report

    New Survey on Women's Health in the U.S. A new national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds most women report generally positive experiences with the health care system, but a sizable share faced problems. A significant minority of nonelderly women reported delaying or going without care in the past year or not filling a prescription due to costs. Women are more likely than men both to face these problems and express concerns about the…

  • The Healthcare Experiences of Women with HIV/AIDS – Insights from Focus Groups

    Report

    The Healthcare Experiences of Women with HIV/AIDS: Insights from Focus Groups This report summarizes findings from a series of focus groups with women living with HIV/AIDS. Focus group participants describe their first-hand experience with the health care system, including issues of to financing and coverage, relationships with providers, the role of AIDS support organizations, and challenges in care and treatment. Report (.pdf)

  • Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey of Kids (and Their Parents) About Famous Athletes as Role Models

    Poll Finding

    With the most recent Olympics and now Major League Baseball marred by reports of the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs, a new nationwide survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation examines the influence of sports figures in kids' lives today. Based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,500 children ages 10-17 years old (and 1,950 parents), the survey found that many American kids are mirroring the behavior of famous athletes - the…

  • The Gender of Politics: How (And How Much) Will Women Influence Election 2000?

    Other Post

    Campaign 1992 was dubbed "The Year of the Woman" because more female candidates ran that year than any other in U.S. history. In 1996, "Soccer Moms" grabbed headlines as the group that candidates needed to win. What role will women have in 2000? How will Election 2000 be remembered? Who is the "woman voter?" What issues does "she" care about? How will women affect the 2000 campaign? A panel of experts, including Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, President,…

  • Vital Signs Index Survey: No. 2

    Other Post

    Topline Results The Vital Signs Index is a monthly nationally representative survey of women on health policy issues. The results of the survey will inform the news segments and be made available to a wider audience of policy makers, health industry leaders, advocates and journalists. Vital Signs Index Survey Topline

  • Sex Education in America:  A View from Inside the Nation’s Classrooms

    Report

    A series of new national surveys of students and their parents (1501 pairs), teachers (1001), and principals (313) from the Kaiser Family Foundation on Sex Education in America, was released on Tuesday, September, 26th, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Challenging the convention that Americans are reluctant to have sexual health issues taught in school, the surveys show that most parents, along with educators and students themselves, would expand sex education courses and…

  • What You Need To Know On The Pill : The Latest Research and Birth Control s Other Coming Attractions

    Other Post

    It seems that almost every week the media reports on a new study about the Pill. Forty years after the first birth control pill was approved, research continues into everything from how effective oral contraceptives are to what impact they may have on risk for breast cancer, cervical cancer, or stroke. The Pill is the most widely used reversible contraceptive today and most new birth control methods also rely on hormones just like it. Yet…

  • Welfare, Women and Health: The Role of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

    Issue Brief

    This issue brief reflects on lessons learned from research about the connection between welfare policies and low-income women's health. The brief discusses the multiple aspects of the TANF program that can influence women's health and well-being, including access to health insurance, work requirements and training options, links to health care services, and reproductive health provisions. Issue Brief