Abortion pill by mail allowed for at least 3 more days, the Supreme Court says

"The Supreme Court on Monday gave itself more time to consider a national ban on telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Justice Samuel Alito extended an earlier order he issued by three more days, so rules for prescribing mifepristone online or through the mail remain in effect through Thursday at a minimum."

"The tumult over the future of telemedicine access to mifipristone started on May 1 with a ruling from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. That ruling re-instituted prescribing rules from before the pandemic that required patients to receive mifepristone in person in a doctor's office or clinic. The Food and Drug Administration determined that the rule was medically unnecessary in 2021."

"The telemedicine abortion process starts with a patient connecting with a healthcare provider on the phone or online. If the patient is eligible, that provider can prescribe two medications mifepristone and another pill called misoprostol. Patients can pick up the medicine at a local pharmacy, or providers can mail the drugs to a patient's home."

"After the 5th Circuit ruling, some providers said they would continue offering telemedicine access to abortion medication using a different protocol that involves higher doses of misoprostol and no mifepristone. Researchers say that method is just as safe and effective, but tends to cause more pain for patients and more side effects, like nausea and diarrhea."

The Supreme Court extended an order by three days to consider a national ban on telemedicine access to mifepristone. Prescribing rules for online or mail access remain in effect through Thursday at a minimum. The dispute began after a May 1 ruling from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated pre-pandemic requirements that patients receive mifepristone in person at a doctor’s office or clinic. The Food and Drug Administration had determined in 2021 that the in-person rule was medically unnecessary. Louisiana sued to argue that telemedicine access undermines the state’s abortion ban. Telemedicine abortion involves connecting with a provider by phone or online, receiving prescriptions for mifepristone and misoprostol, and obtaining the drugs at a local pharmacy or by mail. Telemedicine has contributed to increased abortion access since 2022, with about one quarter of abortions occurring via telemedicine. Some providers planned to use an alternative protocol using higher-dose misoprostol without mifepristone, which researchers say is safe and effective but may cause more pain and side effects.

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