Supreme Court Temporarily Restores Access To Abortion Pill Mifepristone – Full Article

Last week, a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a Biden-era rule allowing abortion pills to be distributed by mail, a decision that could significantly affect access to medication abortion across the United States as broader legal challenges continue to unfold, PBS reported.

In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sided with the state of Louisiana, finding it was likely to succeed in its challenge to a 2023 regulation issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That rule had removed a long-standing requirement that the abortion drug mifepristone be dispensed in person, allowing patients to receive it through the mail following telehealth consultations.

The court’s decision is temporary and will remain in place while the broader case proceeds, but it marks the first time a federal court has moved to roll back expanded access to the drug in recent years.