Judge OKs plan to expand access to morning-after pill

A federal judge has approved the Obama administration’s plan to remove all restrictions on the sale of the one-step morning-after pill.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman on Wednesday means that Plan B One-Step, a popular brand of emergency contraception, will soon be available over-the-counter along with its generic counterparts. 

{mosads}The decision ends a long battle between women’s health advocates and the Obama administration over who should have access to the morning-after pill. 

Groups like the Center for Reproductive Rights, which had sued for broader access to emergency contraception, argued that women of all ages should be able to purchase the drug without having to show identification. 

Federal health officials, like many on the right, had sought to restrict access to the drug by younger teens.

Korman ordered the Food and Drug Administration to remove all restrictions on the sale of Plan B One-Step in April.

On Monday, the Justice Department moved to stop fighting his decision.

The Center for Reproductive Rights praised Korman’s decision in a statement. 

{mosads}”We are tremendously gratified that this lawsuit has resulted in an historic victory to bring emergency contraception out from behind the  pharmacy counter for millions of women across the United States,” said Nancy Northup, the Center’s president, in a statement.  
 
“We agree with Judge Korman that women deserve the full range of available emergency contraception, including lower cost generic options.”