Louisiana challenges federal telehealth rules for abortion pills

The short version

• Louisiana is challenging Biden-era FDA rules permitting mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth, pharmacies, and mail without in-person appointments.[The Hill]
• The state contends the loosened federal rules undermine its abortion restrictions and infringe upon state sovereignty.[The Hill]
• The Trump administration has requested that judges pause ongoing lawsuits pending an FDA review of the medication's safety.[The Hill]

Key facts

• Louisiana is challenging Biden-era FDA changes that allowed mifepristone to be prescribed via telehealth, in pharmacies, and through the mail without an in-person visit.[The Hill]
• Louisiana argues that the FDA's rules undermine its near-total abortion ban and infringe on state sovereignty.[The Hill]
• The Trump administration has asked judges to pause litigation while the FDA completes a safety review of mifepristone.[The Hill]
• The Supreme Court previously put a hold on a 5th Circuit order that had temporarily halted telehealth mifepristone prescriptions across the nation.[The Hill]
• According to the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 91,000 abortions occurred via mailed telehealth prescriptions in states with bans last year, including over 9,300 in Louisiana.[The Hill]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Federal court to hear arguments on abortion pill accessThe Hill