News Briefs: Roe v. Wade Reversal Causes Methotrexate Access Issues

Jul 14
Jul 14, 2022

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent reversal of Roe v. Wade, some people with autoimmune conditions are having access issues with certain medications, including methotrexate, according to Medical News Today. While that drug can be used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and some cancers, it also is used to induce abortions to terminate ectopic pregnancies. Some pharmacists are not dispensing it for fear of being charged with a crime in states that have banned it for ending pregnancies. It also can lead to birth defects, so people of child-bearing age are advised to be on two forms of birth control while taking it, and some rheumatologists are no longer prescribing it due to the risk of accidental pregnancy and the inability for patients to get an abortion. The American College of Rheumatology released a statement noting that it is “aware of the emerging concerns surrounding access to needed treatments such as methotrexate after the recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. We are following this issue closely to determine if rheumatology providers and patients are experiencing any widespread difficulty accessing methotrexate, or if any initial disruptions are potentially temporary due to the independent actions of pharmacists trying to figure out what is and isn’t allowed where they practice.” Read more
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Angela Maas

Angela has an extensive background of editing, reporting and writing for trade and consumer publications. She has written Radar on Specialty Pharmacy since she joined AIS Health in 2005 and has broad knowledge of the various issues at play within the space. She also has written for Spotlight on Market Access since its 2017 launch. Before joining AIS Health, she was managing editor at Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit News Canada and managing editor at Hem Aware (a hemophilia publication), Lupus Living and Momentum (a multiple sclerosis publication). She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in British literature from Arizona State University.