Health

The newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services has expressed support for reviewing the federal approval of mifepristone, a move that could ultimately restrict access to the drug used for abortion and miscarriage care.

Reproductive rights advocates in North Carolina are raising concerns over the possibility that the Trump administration could revoke access to this key medication. Although Trump downplayed the likelihood of national abortion restrictions during his campaign, he recently directed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “study the safety of mifepristone,” according to Kennedy’s Senate confirmation hearing in January.

Two years ago, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid, opening up crucial healthcare coverage to over 630,000 North Carolinians. The government-funded health insurance program has expanded much-needed coverage to low-income adults, pregnant women, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and rural communities where many have less access to care.

Despite the number of lives saved by this expansion, the success could be undone if Republicans cut federal funding for Medicaid.

President Trump is expected to make significant cuts to federal health care programs — a move that could spike costs for North Carolinians who receive their health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid.

Just two weeks after taking office, North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Josh Stein has already implemented new measures to protect individuals’ reproductive rights.