"When the FDA approved mifepristone in 2000, it came with a requirement that patients would have to go in person to a clinic or a doctor's office to receive it. That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic as telemedicine expanded dramatically, FDA began to allow mifepristone to be dispensed at a local pharmacy or through the mail. FDA made the policy official in 2023."
"By that point, the Supreme Court had overturned the constitutional right to abortion in the Dobbs decision. In the years since, the use of telemedicine abortion has grown, and now accounts for one quarter of abortions across the country. It's a big part of the reason why the number of abortions has actually increased since Roe v. Wade was overturned nearly four years ago and many states instituted restrictions."
"On Monday, the Supreme Court put the appeals court ruling on hold for one week. That means mifepristone can still be prescribed through telemedicine and sent through the mail through May 11, at least."
Mifepristone, a medication used for abortion and miscarriage management, became the center of legal controversy when a federal appeals court ruled on May 1 to eliminate telemedicine access nationwide. The FDA had expanded mifepristone access during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing pharmacy and mail dispensing, which became official policy in 2023. Telemedicine abortion now accounts for one quarter of all abortions in the country and has contributed to increased abortion numbers since Roe v. Wade's overturn. Two drugmakers immediately appealed to the Supreme Court, which put the appeals court ruling on hold for one week, allowing mifepristone to remain accessible through telemedicine and mail through May 11. Louisiana has emerged as a leading state in anti-abortion actions.
#mifepristone-legal-battle #telemedicine-abortion-access #supreme-court-ruling #reproductive-rights #fda-policy
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