Supreme Court blocks restrictions, keeps mifepristone available through pharmacies and mail

Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order that maintains women's ability to obtain the abortion medication mifepristone without requiring an in-person doctor visit.

The decision overturns a lower-court ruling that would have forced in-person consultations and stopped mail delivery of the drug, and it came after emergency requests from the drug's manufacturers.

The FDA, which approved mifepristone in 2000 and removed the in-person requirement five years ago, says access should remain uninterrupted at least through next year while the underlying lawsuit proceeds, potentially reaching the high court again.

Anti-abortion groups continue to push for a new FDA review that could impose further limits, but the current order keeps the existing distribution model in place for now.