The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower-court ruling that would restrict access to the abortion drug mifepristone by mail, allowing prescriptions to resume while the justices consider the case. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled to block mifepristone from being prescribed virtually and shipped through the mail, a decision that would have made such deliveries illegal nationwide. The Supreme Court’s stay allows prescriptions to continue until it issues an emergency ruling by May 11.
California-based abortion pill suppliers are preparing backup plans in case the Supreme Court ultimately restricts access to mifepristone. Dr. Michele Gomez, co-founder of the MYA Network, a consortium of virtual reproductive healthcare providers, said the supply chain is “ready to switch in a day” to an alternative drug combination. The alternative involves using misoprostol alone, which is less effective and comes with a higher risk of side effects compared to the two-drug protocol.
Mifepristone is used in nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions, and telehealth prescriptions now account for a significant portion of those. The Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. FDA could have far-reaching implications for abortion access across the country. The case centers on whether the FDA’s approval and recent changes to mifepristone’s distribution were lawful.