Washington State Plans to Destroy 30,000 Expiring Mifepristone Doses

Washington state is preparing to destroy much of its abortion pill stockpile as 30,000 doses are set to expire at the end of January. The state paid nearly $1.3 million for the mifepristone doses in 2023 out of fear access could be restricted. Then-Gov. Jay Inslee authorized the purchase of the first 30,000 doses of mifepristone in 2023 as a three-year insurance policy in case the drug was no longer available due to restrictions at the federal level.

The Current State of the Stockpile

Washington’s initial 30,000 doses of mifepristone, sitting in a state Department of Corrections facility since 2023, cost $1.275 million, said agency spokesperson Christopher Wright. The cost for incinerating the pills is expected to be less than $1,000. Although the state could soon destroy 30,000 pills, a mifepristone stockpile will remain. Inslee OK’d the purchase of another 17,600 doses shortly before leaving office in January, costing $757,000.

The extra 17,600 doses expire in late 2028 and early 2029, Aho noted. On that purchase, the supplier agreed to accept unused doses when they expire and exchange them for new pills at no cost to the state. So destroying those pills will likely be unnecessary. However, a separate stockpile of misoprostol expiring in February and March 2026 may also need to be destroyed, Aho said.

Legal Challenges and Federal Regulations

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, mifepristone and misoprostol, the two abortion-inducing drugs, have become key for people to continue accessing the procedure. In Washington, that hasn’t been an issue — at least yet. For Washington, the bigger threat is federal regulation. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly signaled a willingness to limit access to mifepristone. While testifying before Congress last week, he suggested rolling back access to abortion pills expanded under the Biden administration.

“My office stands ready to fight any unlawful attempts to curtail mifepristone’s availability here,” said state Attorney General Nick Brown. Despite these efforts, “If things go south in Texas,” Normand said, “then mifepristone access nationwide will be blocked.” In 2024, medication abortions accounted for about 68% of all abortions in Washington.

Cost and Access to Services

The state can only provide mifepristone to qualified clinics and prescribers, and has to sell it for at least the price for which it was purchased. Regarding the current costs for patients, exact pricing is determined after consultation and medical evaluation. Here is a breakdown of service costs:

• Abortion Pill (in-clinic or via telehealth): $0-685
• Abortion Procedure (0-11.6 weeks): $0-628
• Abortion Procedure (12-15.6 weeks): up to $0-977
• Abortion Procedure (16+ weeks): up to $0-1,168
• Emergency Contraceptive Pill: $0-40
• Pills (1 month supply): $0-31
• IUD (insertion fee included): $0-966

Financial assistance and cost reduction programs are available. If the cost of service is a barrier to receiving care, providers can discuss all financial options with you. If you qualify for state programs, financial aid, or income-based discounts your cost may be as low as $0.