A new bill filed in Texas, House Bill 1339, aims to reclassify the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV controlled substances, following a similar law passed in Louisiana earlier this year.
Rep. Pat Curry of Waco, a Republican, introduced the bill in an effort to stop people from ordering these drugs online for self-managed abortions, particularly after Texas made almost all abortions illegal.
Mifepristone and misoprostol are not only used for medication abortions but also for treating miscarriage complications and postpartum hemorrhage.
Health professionals have raised concerns that classifying these drugs as controlled substances could hinder emergency care. Dr. Todd Ivey, an OB-GYN, stressed that misoprostol’s use in emergency situations, like postpartum hemorrhage, could be delayed if hospitals face bureaucratic hurdles in accessing the drug.
While Louisiana’s law, which implemented similar measures, sparked legal challenges from healthcare providers, Texas officials are moving forward with similar legislation. Critics argue that such measures create unnecessary obstacles for medical professionals, especially in rural areas, where access to critical care could be severely limited.