Statement from Chicago Abortion Fund on Supreme Court Restoring Access to Telehealth Abortion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Olivia Kuncio, Communications Manager
Phone: (708) 552-0477
Statement from Chicago Abortion Fund on Supreme Court Restoring Access to Telehealth Abortion
Temporarily blocked ruling from Friday’s Louisiana v. FDA decision re-allows mifepristone prescribed via telehealth, but leaves door open for future restrictions
CHICAGO, IL – May 4, 2026 – Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a one week stay on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Louisiana v. FDA, restoring the federal rule allowing the medication abortion drug mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and dispensed through the mail. The decision temporarily restores access to mifepristone – one of two medications commonly used for medication abortion – via telehealth at least until May 11th. More than 1 in 4 people who have abortions use telehealth services to acquire medication abortion care, including mifepristone.
This decision provides temporary relief to the many dedicated providers and abortion funds who rely on telehealth to provide essential care, and particularly to people who would otherwise have to travel hundreds of miles to reach a clinic. However, mifepristone and telehealth abortion care continue to be under legal attack.
This case is one of several on track for the Supreme Court that are aimed at permanently restricting or banning mifepristone, a medication that has a 20+ year track record as a safe, effective, FDA-approved option for ending a pregnancy before 12 weeks. Mifepristone is safer than many over-the-counter medications, and all major medical associations approve of its use.
Only 12 of 102 Illinois counties have an abortion provider, and many Illinoisans rely on telehealth for access to medication abortion. Restrictions on telehealth would not only burden those traveling long distances for care, but also strain free-standing clinics, potentially increasing wait times and reducing access overall. The Chicago Abortion Fund is here to provide financial and logistical support to ensure that people are able to access abortion care, and providers across Illinois continue to be open and ready to provide abortion care to anyone relying on our state regardless of future rulings.
Statement from Megan Jeyifo, Chicago Abortion Fund Executive Director
“Despite today’s temporary stay from the Supreme Court we know that this case is not over and that other threats to mifepristone persist. Two thirds of all people who have abortions do so via medication abortion, and one fourth of all abortions in the United States are via telehealth specifically. Mifepristone is part of the gold standard regimen of medication abortion care – this case and the many others attempting to restrict mifepristone directly contradict decades of research proving its safety and efficacy.
We support hundreds of people accessing medication abortion and abortions via telehealth every month, and politically motivated cases like these have already caused fear and confusion for our callers. At any point, CAF and Illinois’s ecosystem of abortion providers know that we may have to respond to a rollback in abortion access at a time when people are traveling even further and facing even more barriers to access an abortion.
CAF will continue to be responsive to the moment and work diligently to fill gaps in care. We are no stranger to responding to federal attacks on abortion care, and we are prepared to continue to break down barriers to access for our callers no matter the change in the legal landscape.”
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) is the largest abortion fund in the country. For 40 years, we've been breaking down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. CAF offers support for people seeking abortion care in Illinois including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade CAF has received support requests from over 50,000 people in 45 states and pushed out over $20 million in direct assistance and wrap-around support. In 2025 alone, CAF fielded nearly 20,000 support requests and spent over $10 million on appointment and travel costs.