Washington state officials have stocked up on a key abortion drug in preparation for the possibility that it could become much more difficult to access nationwide, pending the outcome of a federal lawsuit brought by anti-abortion-rights groups.
Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, says he ordered the Washington Department of Corrections to use its pharmacy license to buy 30,000 doses of mifepristone, an estimated three-year supply for patients in Washington state. The pills were received on March 31.
Inslee says the University of Washington has obtained an additional 10,000 doses, or about enough for a fourth year.
Noting that Washington is the first state to take such an action, Inslee called the purchase “an insurance policy” in case the drug becomes unavailable.
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