The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a federal appeals court ruling that had imposed new restrictions last week.
Justice Samuel Alito signed the order, temporarily allowing women to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail without an in-person doctor visit. These rules had been in effect for several years before the appeals court acted.
Medication abortion, typically using mifepristone and misoprostol, accounts for the majority of abortions in the U.S. Their availability has helped offset the impact of abortion bans in Republican-led states since the 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Louisiana had sued to restrict mifepristone, arguing its availability undermined the state's ban. Some Democratic-led states have enacted laws protecting telehealth prescriptions for patients in states with bans.
Alito's order remains in effect for one week while both sides respond and the court further considers the issue. Manufacturers of mifepristone had filed emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to intervene.