A federal appeals court on Friday issued a nationwide order blocking the distribution of the abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth services and mail delivery. The ruling temporarily halts a Food and Drug Administration regulation that had expanded access to the medication.

The court granted Louisiana's request to reinstate a nationwide requirement that abortion pills be dispensed in person rather than through remote consultation and mail delivery. The order affects telehealth providers across the United States who had been authorized to prescribe and distribute mifepristone remotely.

Mifepristone is one of two drugs commonly used in medication abortions, which account for a significant portion of pregnancy terminations in the United States. The FDA had previously allowed the medication to be prescribed via telehealth appointments and mailed to patients, expanding access particularly in states where abortion services are limited.

The court order stems from a lawsuit filed by the state of Louisiana challenging the FDA's regulations governing mifepristone distribution. The ruling represents a temporary pause while the legal challenge proceeds through the court system.

The decision effectively restricts abortion access nationwide by eliminating one of the primary methods patients use to obtain abortion medication, particularly in areas where in-person abortion services are not readily available.