Certified pharmacies can dispense the medication mifepristone.

This week, the US Food and Drug Administration announced an important change in the prescription and dispensing of abortion medication, mifepristone. Previously, the only way patients could obtain the medication is directly through a doctor, who would themselves need to order and dispense it. Going forward, however, any patient with a prescription for the medicine can have it filled out at certified pharmacies.

“A time when people across the country are struggling to obtain abortion care services, this modification is critically important to expanding access to medication abortion services and will provide healthcare providers with an additional method for providing their patients with a safe and effective option for ending early pregnancy,” a representative of Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the drug under the name Mifeprex, said in a press statement.

Prominent pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS are currently reviewing the new changes. “We’re reviewing the FDA’s updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program certification requirements for mifepristone to determine the requirements to dispense in states that do not restrict the dispensing of medications prescribed for elective termination of pregnancy,” a CVS rep said in a statement.

This announcement follows a Justice Department ruling that abortion medication can be delivered through the mail, an important aspect of protecting abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.