Description: The Biden administration issued a mandate requiring pharmacies that serve patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or other federally funded coverage to stock and dispense elective abortion drugs. The Biden administration threatens legal action against any pharmacy or pharmacist that does not comply, even if doing so violates their religious beliefs, as is the case of Mayo Pharmacy and its owner, Dr. Kevin Martian.
HHS rescinds unclear guidance from Biden admin on pharmacy abortion drugs
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Matt Bowman, director of regulatory practice, regarding a decision Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to rescind unclear guidance on whether pharmacists are required to keep harmful abortion drugs in stock. In its review of the guidance that was implemented under the Biden administration, HHS specifically mentioned concerns raised by ADF attorneys in the case State of Texas and Mayo Pharmacy v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“We are grateful to the Trump administration for rescinding Biden-era guidance that forced Americans to dispense abortion-inducing drugs against their conscience. The Biden administration’s HHS had issued its pharmacy abortion mandate in 2022 and partially changed it after a court ruled in favor of religious pharmacies in 2023. But the guidance it left in place still subjected pro-life pharmacies across the country to a looming threat from federal bureaucrats. Now, we are grateful to the current administration for eliminating the remnants of this Biden-era abortion mandate by repealing it entirely. HHS’s decision will protect our former client and pharmacies around the country who are fully within their rights to decline to stock or dispense abortion drugs.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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