CVS and Walgreens have joined with the abortion industry in multiple states

Key Takeaways:
- While certain pharmacies like Costco have chosen to stay out of the abortion industry, CVS and Walgreens joined and have expanded to more than 20 states combined to dispense abortion pills.
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) was key in pressuring CVS and Walgreens to begin dispensing the abortion pill in Nevada.
- CVS has more than 9,000 locations nationwide, while Walgreens has 12,500 locations in Europe, the U.S., and Latin America.

The Backstory:
A January 2023 FDA approval expanded pharmacy dispensing of the abortion pill mifepristone. In March 2024 both CVS and Walgreens announced that they had begun dispensing the drug regimen.

- Walgreens Boots Alliance stated it had “completed the FDA certification process to dispense mifepristone” and was “now dispensing, consistent with federal and state laws.” Walgreens began a “phased rollout” in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois.
- CVS Health announced that its “retail locations have begun filling prescriptions for mifepristone in select states where legally permissible,” adding that “Mifepristone is currently available with an authorized prescription from a certified prescriber at CVS Pharmacy locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.” It noted that “Over the coming weeks, we plan to phase in other states where it is legally permissible for pharmacies to fill prescriptions for this medication.”

Recent developments:
- CVS acquired the prescription files of 625 Rite Aid pharmacies across 15 states and began operating 64 Rite Aid stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (May 2025).
- In October 2024, CVS Health named David Joyner its new CEO, replacing Karen Lynch.
- Walgreens operates approximately 12,500 locations across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. CEO Tim Wentworth has said the chain will not disclose which pharmacies carry the drug “in the interest of pharmacist and patient safety.”

Political pressure:
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) urged CVS and Walgreens to dispense the pill in Nevada, citing FDA guidance and state law.
- Pro‑life groups such as Pro‑life Waco, led by John Pisciotta, have protested outside CVS and Walgreens stores.

Certification and state rollouts:
- CVS is certified by GenBioPro and is dispensing the pill in 22 states plus the District of Columbia, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington.
- Walgreens is certified by Danco Laboratories and has a phased rollout in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois, with plans to expand to other eligible states.

Competitor stance:
- Costco has decided not to dispense the abortion pill at its more than 500 pharmacy locations.
- Walmart, Albertsons, and Kroger have stated they do not offer the medication.

The article concludes with commentary from Live Action, a pro‑life news outlet, and includes calls to action for readers to support their cause.

(Article originally published by Live Action News on August 15, 2025.)

CVS and Walgreens have joined with the abortion industry in multiple states

The article reports that CVS Health and Walgreens Boots Alliance have expanded their pharmacy dispensing of the abortion pill mifepristone to more than 20 states combined. It details the regulatory approvals, state rollouts, corporate leadership changes, and political pressure that led to the pharmacies’ participation, while noting that competitors such as Costco, Walmart, and Albertsons have opted out.