Healthcare Reform - Abortion & Walgreens Cowardice

March 3, 2023

Good Day Healthcare Advocates 

I am so thankful for all of you and for the actions you take to move us towards a universal healthcare system.  Some of the topics in work are:

1. The current state of healthcare providers and the potential impact of Universal Healthcare on them

2. How Universal Healthcare affects the insurance industry (it’s not what you think)

3. Rural healthcare challenges 

4. Hospice Fraud revisited - this is worse than was reported

Please send topics to me via the chat button and I will research and report.  If you need assistance in other ways, lectures, presentations, etc. Just let me know, I’m happy to help.

Abortion Medication - Walgreens Cowardice

Today I read in Politico that Walgreens pharmacies will not provide abortion medication in 24 states where Republican attorneys general object.  Even though abortion is legal in some of those states, like Alaska, Kansas, Iowa and Montana.  

I find this kind of corporate cowardice particularly atrocious.  There are so many medical situations where the prescriptions involved preserve the mother’s health and fertility.  Waiting until there is an emergency to resolve a problem pregnancy risks the mother’s ability to ever have children again and risks her life.  How cruel do you have to be?

The history of abortion laws in the US is an ugly one and filled with racial hate.  You can read about it here. In the 1800’s abortion was fairly common and performed by midwives who were generally Black. In 1857 Dr. Henry Storer was alarmed that so many white women were having abortions that this was a risk to Anglo-Saxon race in America.  He alerted every state’s governor and pushed for abortion laws to be put in place. He was later joined by the fledgeling AMA who also wanted to make mid-wifery illegal, and preclude non-whites and women from being doctors.  They felt that AMA certified doctors should be the only ones involved in obstetrics.  Ok so much for that ugly bit of history.

Now it turns out that about 53% of all abortions are done with prescriptions. The combination Mifepristone and Misoprostol are most common. It is worth noting that Mifepristone is safer to use than either Tylenol or Penicillin.  It is the subject of a federal lawsuit in Texas right now asking to have the FDA remove its approval because it is allegedly dangerous.  Fun Fact THAT IS A LIE.  Abortion deaths range from 0 to single digits in the US for a year and are from procedures not medication.

I want you to not confuse miscarriage (up to 20% of pregnancies) with abortion.

Miscarriages often require an abortion, either with medicine or in-clinic, to ensure the health of the mother and her uterus.  Additionally, certain pregnancies require termination to preserve the mother’s life.  A safe, early and effective method is often with medication.  

My wife and I are lecturing next week at a League of Women Voters meeting in Washington on Reproductive Healthcare Nationally and in Washington State. Here is a link to the in-work presentation.  It is loaded with references.

Any woman who needs a medical abortion needs to be able to get one and the medication.  There are many sources.  Here are a few.

1.  Dutch site AidAccess, https://aidaccess.org/en/

They arrange a teleconference with a doctor and medication is shipped from India.  Costs up to $150

2. Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

3. Abortion Finder  This site can also help you find grants for funding an abortion

   https://www.abortionfinder.org/

4. General Sexual Health - Bedsider.org https://www.bedsider.org

5. The Washington State Department of Health has a pretty good website to use for information - use an incognito browser it is https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortion

WARNING:  When searching online about reproductive health be very careful about how you browse.  If you are in a state that has laws against abortion they may obtain your text messages, browsing history, and phone calls, to prosecute you or your healthcare providers even if they are out of state.

1. Use an incognito browser that does not track you

2. Do not go to a Crisis Pregnancy Center, they are NOT HIPPA COMPLIANT and will sell your personal information to people who will harass you

3. DO NOT USE APPS TO TRACK MENSTRUAL CYCLES, again they are not HIPPA COMPLIANT AND CAN SELL YOUR DATA

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Send an email to the 2 Walgreen’s executives below.

Primary Contact Rick Gates - Senior Vice President, Pharmacy and Healthcare, rick.gates@walgreens.com

Secondary Contact Lisa Badgley, Senior Vice President, Operations, lisa.badgley@walgreens.com

Subject: WALGREENS REFUSAL TO SELL ABORTION MEDICATION 

Mr. Gates and Ms. Badgley,

I am appalled that Walgreens has chosen to stop selling abortion medication in 24 states.  Some of those states like Alaska, Kansas, Iowa and Montana still have legal abortion.  This cowardice to put your corporation’s benefit  above the health and well being of your customers is appalling.  I am ashamed of you.  There are women who will be placed in critical emergency situations because you choose not to help when you can.  Until you repair this shameful behavior I cannot shop at your stores and I will share this information widely.

<Your Name>

<City, State>

Resources

Contact White House or other federal agencies: usa.gov/federal-agencies

Contact the White House  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Contact State and Federal Representatives

https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/change-your-address

Contact all members of Congress

• By phone: (202) 224-3121

• By email: democracy.io

• By US mail: Representatives / Senators

• By fax: Representatives / Senators

• By Resistbot: Resist.bot

Healthcare Advocacy Reading List

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ldtxr8wuTkkZbJbA9N5iP26tcfgBwhQC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116546851536018833385&rtpof=true&sd=true

Today’s Story

Politico Story about Walgreens

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/02/walgreens-abortion-pills-00085325

Abortion and Sexual Health References and Recommendations

6.  Dutch site AidAccess, https://aidaccess.org/en/

They arrange teleconference with a doctor and medication is shipped from India.  Costs up to $150

7. Planned Parenthood

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

7. Abortion Finder  This site can also help you find grants for funding

https://www.abortionfinder.org/

7. General Sexual Health - Bedsider.org

https://www.bedsider.org

7. The Washington State Department of Health has a pretty good website to use for information - use an incognito browser it is https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/sexual-and-reproductive-health/abortion