Hochul plans to stockpile abortion pills after Texas judge ruling

The recent judge ruling in Texas that could cut access to the nation’s most commonly used abortion drug has Gov. Kathy Hochul strengthening her fight to provide safe reproductive health care.

During a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Hochul, along with Planned Parenthood of New York, said the state will stockpile misoprostol. It’s another medication for abortions.

NBC News reported more than half of U.S. abortions are now done with pills rather than surgery. It’s a trend that spiked during the pandemic.

“We’re not going to let one extremist judge turn back the clock on 20 years of safe, reproductive care,” Hochul said.

Hochul also said if the judge’s decision for mifepristone stands, she will dedicate $20 million more for reproductive health care providers to support methods of access to other forms of care, including procedures.

That’s on top of the $35 million Hochul allocated after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Hochul is also having discussions with the legislature about requiring private insurance to cover medication for abortions when it’s prescribed off-label.

“Extremist judges have made it clear that they won’t stop at any one particular drug or service,” said Hochul. “We’re going to ensure that New Yorkers will continue to have access to medication abortion no matter what.”

The governor laid out more actions in the 2024 budget, but the budget is still being held up in the state Capitol.

Those action plans are laid out to increase Medicaid reimbursement rights for reproductive health services, provides more funding for providers and allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control.