U.S. Supreme Court Stays Lower Court Orders on Mifepristone, Preserving Access to Safe Medication at Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ Kansas Health Centers

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on lower court rulings that attempted to block the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Mifepristone, meaning access to the medication will remain in place throughout the country including Planned Parenthood Great Plains’ (PPGP) Kansas health centers. The decision comes after the Supreme Court granted a temporary stay last week.

In the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk took unprecedented action on April 7, to block FDA approval of Mifepristone. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals then kept part of the ruling in place but removed certain restrictions on the drug. First approved more than 20 years ago, Mifepristone is safe and effective, and has been used by more than five million people in the United States.

In response to today’s ruling, PPGP will continue to offer medication abortion using Mifepristone as part of a two-drug regimen at its Kansas health centers.

Statement from Emily Wales, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Plains:

"This is a relief for our patients who, amid the uncertainty of the last two weeks, have wondered what their care would look like when they made it to their appointment. For them, this confusion was yet another burden in accessing medication abortion that should be available, regardless of where they live. But to be at the point where the high court had to weigh in on a drug that has been safely used by millions of people should be chilling for all Americans who trust science to guide best practice medicine. While the fight for equitable access to care is far from over this was an important step.”