The little-known tech company that is said to be helping to track abortion pill prescriptions in America

A tech company named Bamboo Health is reportedly playing a key role in tracking abortion pill prescriptions in parts of America, starting with the state of Louisiana. This tracking is enabled by state laws that are beginning to classify abortion pills, specifically mifepristone and misoprostol, as "controlled substances," similar to drugs with high potential for abuse. In May 2024, Louisiana passed such a law and is now using Bamboo Health's existing prescription monitoring database to track these medications.
A report by Business Insider cited New Orleans Health Department to claim that as of March, Louisiana clinicians are mandated to log every prescription for mifepristone and misoprostol into Bamboo Health's database. This system, typically used for monitoring addictive drugs, is now being applied to abortion pills in Louisiana and potentially other states.

In a statement to Business Insider, a former Bamboo employee revealed that the company had announced its plan to monitor the drugs in an internal Slack channel in 2024. At that time the company reportedly cited this move as its legal obligation as Louisiana’s prescription-monitoring vendor. The employee, who discussed the matter on the condition of anonymity, described the announcement as part of the company's compliance measures.
In a separate statement to Business Insider, Bamboo Health CEO Jeff Smith said that the company's prescription monitoring platform is required to adhere to state regulations.
“They determine how that data is managed and accessed. That's how it gets treated in Louisiana and anywhere else it would occur,” Smith noted.
Originally founded as Appriss in 1994, Bamboo Health, grew from a victim notification tool into a $30 million business. It later expanded into law enforcement solutions, tracking sex offenders and monitoring Sudafed purchases to help police shut down meth labs.

Apart from Louisiana, other states like Texas, Indiana, and Idaho are also exploring similar measures for tracking these drugs. All three states even have partnerships with Bamboo, the report added.
Its also important to note that beyond abortions, Misoprostol is used for various medical purposes, including treating ulcers, managing miscarriages, and preventing postpartum bleeding. However, its classification as a controlled substance has raised concerns among physicians about restrictions and state oversight potentially affecting patient care.