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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731 - 740 of 872 Results

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

    Other Post

    National Survey of Women's Health Care Providers on Medical Abortion September 16, 1998 One in Two Ob/Gyns Say They are Likely to Offer Mifepristone (RU-486) If Approved by FDA, And Almost Half Who Do Not Now Provide Abortions Say They Would Provide the Medical Alternative Many Family Practice Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician AssistantsAlso Report Interest Menlo Park, CA - In the coming year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to complete its…

  • Emergency Contraception Survey in California

    Poll Finding

    - Survey Toplines As the FDA continues to deliberate about whether emergency contraception will be made available "over-the-counter" without a prescription, a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey examines Californian's awareness of and experiences with emergency contraception, inlcuding findings on the state's "pharmacy access " program. California's "pharmacy access" program permits women to receive emergency contraception from participating pharmacists directly without contacting a physician , while the "over-the-counter" option the FDA is considering would allow people…

  • Maternity Care and Consumer-Driven Health Plans

    Report

    Maternity Care and Consumer-Driven Health Plans This report compares out-of-pocket costs of maternity care under 12 consumer-driven health plans (CDHP) from the group and individual markets to a traditional health insurance plan. CDHPs typically have lower premiums but higher deductible levels than traditional health plans, shifting more of the financial responsibility for the costs of medical care to patients to promote more cost-conscious health care choices. In some cases, out-of-pocket costs under CDHPs may be…

  • Women’s Health Care Chartbook: Key Findings From the Kaiser Women’s Health Survey

    Report

    The Women's Health Care Chartbook presents findings from a national survey of women ages 18 to 64 and provides a look at the experience of women in the health care system. The chartbook includes data on insurance coverage, affordability of and access to care, use of health care services, prevention, and family health.

  • Assessing the Presidential Candidates’ Positions on Women’s Health Coverage and Reproductive Health Care

    Issue Brief

    Women's health has been a key issue in the 2012 election with the candidates, President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, having different views on women's health care. This brief discusses two major health care issues that are important to women – health coverage and reproductive health care – and summarizes the presidential candidates' stated positions on these topics.

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/ Self National Survey on Women’s Health Policy Priorities & Election 2000, Summary of Findings and Questionnaire

    Report

    The Kaiser Family Foundation and Self magazine have partnered on a nationally representative survey of more than 1000 Americans, ages 18 and older, to examine how women (and men) rate the importance of health policy issues from abortion to HIV/AIDS to Medicare in the upcoming election. Highlights from the survey include Americans views about politicians health care promises as well as which candidate Americans trust with the health care issues that are most important to…

  • Microbicides: So, What Are They? And Why Should You Care?

    Other Post

    Some think they could be the biggest news for women since the pill. What are they? Microbicides. Scientists around the world are working to develop gels, creams, and other products that destroy or disable the viruses and bacteria that cause HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). While microbicides are not yet available, some public health experts believe they could hold promise as a method of prevention that women could initiate themselves. So, what, if…

  • Views and Practices of Women’s Health Care Providers on Medical Abortion: An Update on Mifepristone

    Other Post

    This survey snapshot summarizes the results of a Foundation survey of women's health care providers between May andAugust 2001. Findings show that a relatively small proportion 6 percent of gynecologists and 1 percent of general practice physicians had used the drug to provide early medical abortions in the nine months since distribution began. Gynecologists who currently or recently provided surgical abortions are most likely to report that they now offer medical abortions or plan to…

  • The Entertainment Media as “Sex Educators?” And, Other Ways Teens Learn About Sex, Contraception, STDs, and AIDS

    Other Post

    The Entertainment Media as "Sex Educators?" And, Other Ways Teens Learn About Sex, Contraception, STDs, and AIDS A fact sheet, Q&A and resource list prepared for a briefing held in New York on June 24, 1996, co-sponsored by Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Press Foundation and The Alan Guttmacher Institute, as part of an ongoing briefing series for journalist on reproductive health issues: Emerging Issues in Reproductive Health. This briefing focused on understanding the different…