





















































Three states try to make abortion pill mifepristone harder to access | AP News














































































































































































































































































































































































































































Menu







Menu




World




U.S.




Politics




Sports




Entertainment




Business




Science




Fact Check




Oddities




Be Well




Newsletters




Newsletters



AP News Alerts
Keep your pulse on the news with breaking news alerts from The AP.




The Morning Wire
Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.




Ground Game
Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.




Beyond the Story
Executive Editor Julie Pace brings you behind the scenes of the AP newsroom.




AP Entertainment Wire
Get AP's first personalized newsletter delivering you entertainment news twice a week.




AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll Alerts
Women's college basketball poll alerts and updates.



See All Newsletters








Photography 




AP Investigations




Climate




SECTIONS

Indigenous peoples and climate
Climate Questions
Climate Migration 
India Focus



TOP STORIES


Many Senegalese seek to tap the power of animals by wearing them. Lions pay a heavy price


Brazil to join OPEC+, group of major oil-exporting nations


How better water systems can help a city survive the next firestorm










Health




TOP STORIES


Vatican authorities say the pope now has pneumonia in both lungs. How worrying is that?


Trump has signed an executive order on IVF. Here's what you should know about the procedure


Layoffs hit many at CDC lab program that was started to address previous failures


More adults are wondering if they have autism. Here are tips to seek a diagnosis


This Valentine's Day, consider what all types of love bring to your life


How to deal with fresh health insurance deductibles in the new year










Tech




SECTIONS

Artificial Intelligence
Social Media



TOP STORIES


Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone


Google agrees to pay Italy $340 million to settle a tax evasion investigation


Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola files for bankruptcy protection










Lifestyle




SECTIONS

Food & Recipes
Gardening
Homes
Travel
Fashion
Pets



TOP STORIES


Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone


No pain, no gain? Hardly. This year's fitness buzzword is 'recovery'


Learn a few laundry secrets from the baseball pros — the clubhouse staffers who wash MLB uniforms










Religion




TOP STORIES


Middle East latest: Netanyahu appoints an adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks


Italy PM Meloni visits pope in hospital, says he's in good spirits as tests show slight improvement


Thousands of Palestinian families flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants




Newsletters



World of Faithtest
Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world.



See All Newsletters








Español




TOP STORIES


Administración de Trump califica de organizaciones terroristas a ocho cárteles latinoamericanos


Trump advierte a Zelenskyy que debe negociar rápidamente el fin de la guerra con Rusia


Asesor de Zelenskyy dice que EEUU renunció a  papel en la guerra, fortaleciendo a Rusia.


Trump provoca caos en el proyecto de ley presupuestaria del Senado


El papa Francisco tiene neumonía en ambos pulmones. ¿Qué tan preocupante es?










Quizzes




Press Releases




My Account





...







World







Mideast Wars
    



Russia-Ukraine War
    



Español
        






China
    



Asia Pacific
    



Latin America
    



Europe
    



Africa
    



Australia
    



Middle East
    



Global Elections
        









U.S.





Politics







Trump cabinet confirmation tracker
        






White House
    



Congress
    



U.S. Supreme Court
    



Trump’s presidential promises
        






2025 Election Calendar
        









Sports







NBA
    



NHL
    



Men’s College Basketball
    



Men’s Top 25
    



Women’s College Basketball
    



Women’s Top 25
    



MLB
    



NFL
    



Auto Racing
    



Soccer
    






Entertainment







Movie Reviews
    



What to Stream
    



Television
    



Book Reviews
    



Music
    



Celebrity Interviews
    






Business







Inflation
    



Financial Markets
    



Financial Wellness
    



Technology
    






Science







Space
    



Animals
    



The Ancient World
    



Climate
    



Medicine
    






Fact Check





Oddities





Be Well





Newsletters





Photography 







2024 YEAR END PHOTOS
    



Photo Essays
    



Photography 
    






AP Investigations





Climate







Indigenous peoples and climate




Climate Questions
    



Climate Migration 
    



India Focus
    






Health





Tech







Artificial Intelligence
    



Social Media
    






Lifestyle







Food & Recipes
    



Gardening
    



Homes
    



Travel
    



Fashion
    



Pets
    






Religion





Español





Quizzes





Press Releases





My Account
















                Search Query
            





Submit Search








            Show Search
        















Submit Search










World











Mideast Wars
    



Russia-Ukraine War
    



Español
        






China
    



Asia Pacific
    



Latin America
    



Europe
    



Africa
    



Australia
    



Middle East
    



Global Elections
        









SECTIONS

Mideast Wars
Russia-Ukraine War
Español
China
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Europe
Africa











U.S.








Politics











Trump cabinet confirmation tracker
        






White House
    



Congress
    



U.S. Supreme Court
    



Trump’s presidential promises
        






2025 Election Calendar
        









SECTIONS

Trump cabinet confirmation tracker
White House
Congress
U.S. Supreme Court
Trump’s presidential promises
2025 Election Calendar











Sports











NBA
    



NHL
    



Men’s College Basketball
    



Men’s Top 25
    



Women’s College Basketball
    



Women’s Top 25
    



MLB
    



NFL
    



Auto Racing
    



Soccer
    






SECTIONS

NBA
NHL
Men’s College Basketball
Men’s Top 25
Women’s College Basketball
Women’s Top 25
MLB
NFL











Entertainment











Movie Reviews
    



What to Stream
    



Television
    



Book Reviews
    



Music
    



Celebrity Interviews
    






SECTIONS

Movie Reviews
What to Stream
Television
Book Reviews
Music
Celebrity Interviews











Business











Inflation
    



Financial Markets
    



Financial Wellness
    



Technology
    






SECTIONS

Inflation
Financial Markets
Financial Wellness
Technology











Science











Space
    



Animals
    



The Ancient World
    



Climate
    



Medicine
    






SECTIONS

Space
Animals
The Ancient World
Climate
Medicine











Fact Check








Oddities








Be Well








Newsletters









Newsletters



AP News Alerts
Keep your pulse on the news with breaking news alerts from The AP.




The Morning Wire
Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.




Ground Game
Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics.




Beyond the Story
Executive Editor Julie Pace brings you behind the scenes of the AP newsroom.




AP Entertainment Wire
Get AP's first personalized newsletter delivering you entertainment news twice a week.




AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll Alerts
Women's college basketball poll alerts and updates.



See All Newsletters











Photography 











2024 YEAR END PHOTOS
    



Photo Essays
    



Photography 
    






SECTIONS

2024 YEAR END PHOTOS
Photo Essays
Photography 











AP Investigations








Climate











Indigenous peoples and climate




Climate Questions
    



Climate Migration 
    



India Focus
    






SECTIONS

Indigenous peoples and climate
Climate Questions
Climate Migration 
India Focus



TOP STORIES


Many Senegalese seek to tap the power of animals by wearing them. Lions pay a heavy price


Brazil to join OPEC+, group of major oil-exporting nations


How better water systems can help a city survive the next firestorm












Health









TOP STORIES


Vatican authorities say the pope now has pneumonia in both lungs. How worrying is that?


Trump has signed an executive order on IVF. Here's what you should know about the procedure


Layoffs hit many at CDC lab program that was started to address previous failures


More adults are wondering if they have autism. Here are tips to seek a diagnosis


This Valentine's Day, consider what all types of love bring to your life


How to deal with fresh health insurance deductibles in the new year












Tech











Artificial Intelligence
    



Social Media
    






SECTIONS

Artificial Intelligence
Social Media



TOP STORIES


Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone


Google agrees to pay Italy $340 million to settle a tax evasion investigation


Troubled electric vehicle maker Nikola files for bankruptcy protection












Lifestyle











Food & Recipes
    



Gardening
    



Homes
    



Travel
    



Fashion
    



Pets
    






SECTIONS

Food & Recipes
Gardening
Homes
Travel
Fashion
Pets



TOP STORIES


Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone


No pain, no gain? Hardly. This year's fitness buzzword is 'recovery'


Learn a few laundry secrets from the baseball pros — the clubhouse staffers who wash MLB uniforms












Religion









TOP STORIES


Middle East latest: Netanyahu appoints an adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks


Italy PM Meloni visits pope in hospital, says he's in good spirits as tests show slight improvement


Thousands of Palestinian families flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants




Newsletters



World of Faithtest
Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world.



See All Newsletters










Español









TOP STORIES


Administración de Trump califica de organizaciones terroristas a ocho cárteles latinoamericanos


Trump advierte a Zelenskyy que debe negociar rápidamente el fin de la guerra con Rusia


Asesor de Zelenskyy dice que EEUU renunció a  papel en la guerra, fortaleciendo a Rusia.


Trump provoca caos en el proyecto de ley presupuestaria del Senado


El papa Francisco tiene neumonía en ambos pulmones. ¿Qué tan preocupante es?












Quizzes








Press Releases








My Account


















The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.















        twitter
    









        instagram
    









        facebook
    










The Associated Press




ap.org
        






Careers
        






Advertise with us
        






Contact Us
    



Accessibility Statement
    



Terms of Use
    



Privacy Policy
    


Cookie Settings



Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
        






Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information
        






CA Notice of Collection
        













More From AP News











About
        






AP News Values and Principles
        






AP’s Role in Elections
        






AP Leads
        






AP Definitive Source Blog
        






AP Images Spotlight Blog
        






AP Stylebook
        









SECTIONS

About
AP News Values and Principles
AP’s Role in Elections
AP Leads
AP Definitive Source Blog
AP Images Spotlight Blog
AP Stylebook













Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.





















U.S. News
3 states renew their effort to reduce access to the abortion drug mifepristone

























FILE - A patient prepares to take the first of two combination pills, mifepristone, for a medication abortion during a visit to a clinic in Kansas City, Kan., on, Oct. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)














            By 
            GEOFF MULVIHILL



 




Share



                    Share
                    









Copy
Link copied









        Email
    


 





Facebook






X








Reddit





LinkedIn





Pinterest






Flipboard








        Print
    















Three states are renewing a legal push to restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone, including reinstating requirements it be dispensed in person instead of by mail.The request from Kansas, Idaho and Missouri filed Friday would bar the drug’s use after seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10 and require three in-person doctor office visits instead of none in the latest attempt to make it harder to get a drug that’s used in most abortions nationally.The filing seeking to sue the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was made in a federal court in Texas where the case was returned after the U.S. Supreme Court in June unanimously agreed to keep federal changes that eased access to the medication.In that ruling, the high court did not tackle the merits of the approval but rather said that anti-abortion doctors and their organizations lacked the legal right to sue. The justices also previously refused the states’ push to intervene in the case.

The states argue they have legal standing because access to the pills “undermine state abortion laws and frustrate state law enforcement,” they wrote in court documents.







                    RELATED COVERAGE
                


















Judge permanently blocks Ohio law on disposal of aborted fetal remains




















Abortions to resume in Missouri after a judge blocks restrictions




















New York doctor is fined in Texas, charged in Louisiana over abortion pills in tests of shield laws









They are now making a more modest but still far-reaching request instead: that the courts return the restrictions around the drug to where they were before the FDA relaxed them in 2016 and 2021.The relaxed rules also allow care providers such as nurse practitioners to prescribe the drugs in addition to doctors.












Medication abortions — usually using mifepristone in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, accounted for about half the abortions provided in the U.S. before the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. The decision ended the nationwide right to abortion and opened the door for states to impose bans and additional restrictions. Thirteen states now enforce bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy and four more bar it after about six weeks — before many women know they’re pregnant.

The pills are now used in close to two-thirds of the abortions provided across the country and prescribed via telehealth to patients in states with bans by doctors in states with laws that seek to protect them from legal scrutiny for providing such interstate care. Expanded access to the medications is one reason monthly abortion numbers are up slightly since Roe was overturned.Aid Access, which helps women get abortion pills and covers costs for those who can’t afford them, criticized the latest filing on Wednesday.“The document submitted is full of lies,” said Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, the group’s founder. “There is overwhelming scientific proof that telemedical abortions done at home for pregnancies up to 13 weeks are as safe as in-clinic abortions.”Over the years, the FDA reaffirmed mifepristone’s safety and repeatedly eased restrictions, culminating in a 2021 decision doing away with any in-person requirements and allowing the pill to be sent through the mail.Abortion opponents have been arguing that the FDA’s easing of restrictions resulted in many more “emergency complications.” But that argument lumps together women experiencing a range of issues with mifepristone — from the drug not working to people who may simply have questions or concerns but don’t require medical care.

OB-GYNs say a tiny fraction of patients suffer “major” or “serious” adverse events after taking mifepristone.A legal brief by a group of medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says major adverse events — such as significant infection, excessive bleeding or hospitalization — occur in about one in every 300 patients.The labeling also mentions those who use the drug went to the emergency room in 2.9% to 4.6% of cases — something the states seized on in their filing. But doctors say ER visits don’t always reflect big problems; some people may go there just to be checked out or to ask questions because they don’t have a primary care doctor or don’t want to talk to their doctor about their abortion. A 2018 study found that slightly more than half of patients who visited the ER because of abortions received only observational care.___Associated Press reporters Kimberlee Kruesi, Matthew Perrone, Laura Ungar and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this article.
















GEOFF MULVIHILL


                Mulvihill covers topics on the agendas of state governments across the country. He has focused on abortion, gender issues and opioid litigation.
            








        twitter
    








        mailto
    
























                    Most read
                























Trump administration gives schools a deadline to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money










A deeper look at the talks between US and Russian officials as Trump suggests Ukraine is to blame










Russia and US agree to work toward ending Ukraine war in a remarkable diplomatic shift










White House says Elon Musk is not in charge at DOGE, but is advising the president










A$AP Rocky dives into Rihanna’s arms as not guilty verdict is read at felony assault trial





























The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.












The Associated Press




ap.org
        






Careers
        






Advertise with us
        






Contact Us
    



Accessibility Statement
    



Terms of Use
    



Privacy Policy
    


Cookie Settings



Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
        






Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information
        






CA Notice of Collection
        










More From AP News




About
        






AP News Values and Principles
        






AP’s Role in Elections
        






AP Leads
        






AP Definitive Source Blog
        






AP Images Spotlight Blog
        






AP Stylebook
        

















Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.









        twitter
    









        instagram
    









        facebook
    














And in the filing they claim it’s because the state is being harmed by a drop in teen pregnancy….  They’re ghouls