The Supreme Court of the United States has temporarily maintained nationwide access to the abortion pill Mifepristone while the justices continue reviewing a legal challenge that could restrict how the drug is distributed across the country.
In an order issued Monday, Justice Samuel Alito extended an earlier pause on a lower court ruling until Thursday evening, giving the court additional time to determine its next steps in the high-profile abortion case.
The dispute centers on whether mifepristone can continue to be prescribed and delivered through the mail without requiring patients to attend an in-person medical appointment.
Earlier this month, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a request from Louisiana to overturn Biden-era federal rules that expanded access to the medication through telehealth services and mail delivery.
If allowed to take effect, the appeals court ruling would significantly limit access to the drug nationwide, including in states where abortion remains legal.
The Supreme Court’s temporary action means mifepristone will remain available under current federal guidelines while the justices deliberate. The extension does not indicate how the court may ultimately rule on the merits of the case.
The legal battle over mifepristone has become one of the most closely watched abortion disputes since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade overturning in 2022, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and shifted abortion policy decisions to individual states.
Mifepristone is one of the most commonly used medications for abortion care in the United States and is also prescribed in certain cases involving miscarriage management.