New Jersey Family Planning League Denounces the 5th U.S. Circuit Court Ruling Restricting Mifepristone Access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2026

 

NEWARK, NJ – Yesterday, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to reinstate a previous requirement that patients obtain mifepristone in person at a health center, rather than by mail or at a pharmacy after receiving care through telemedicine. This ruling is a calculated undermining of bodily autonomy that prioritizes political ideology over decades of rigorous, peer-reviewed medical science.

Mifepristone is a safe and effective medication that has been the cornerstone for reproductive healthcare in the United States and globally for decades. It is currently the most common method for early abortion care and managing early miscarriages. By systematically dismantling access to mifepristone, the court is not only ignoring decades of evidence-backed research but also the reality that abortion is essential healthcare and restricting it does not eliminate the need for it; it only compounds the financial and logistical burdens on patients.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, telehealth has proven to be a critical lifeline for patients accessing essential care, especially those who live in states that restrict abortion care and those who face barriers to travel. Stripping the right to this option and reverting to mandatory in-person visits will only create a public health crisis that will disproportionately affect our most vulnerable populations.

“New Jersey remains a national leader in protecting and advancing reproductive choice and bodily autonomy. We have fought to ensure that every individual has access to the care they deserve and that their rights are safeguarded by law. But when legal barriers are erected in other states, the ripple effects are felt nationwide. If this ruling is allowed to stand, everyone – including New Jerseyans – will be forced to navigate unnecessary hurdles to access life-saving medication,” said Jen Groves, President & CEO of the New Jersey Family Planning League.

We must remain vigilant. This case in Louisiana is part of a broader, coordinated effort to restrict mifepristone nationwide. Other ongoing cases could go even further by directing the FDA to withdraw its approval of mifepristone altogether.

In 2025, the League’s Expanding Abortion Access Program provided nearly half of all abortions provided in New Jersey, and more than one in ten patients self-reported to be living out of state. In the wake of this ruling, we anticipate a surge in patients traveling to New Jersey for care. But we refuse to be intimidated by political attempts to roll back the clock on medical progress and fundamental rights. We will remain steadfast in our mission to provide high-quality, comprehensive and compassionate care to every patient our network sees, regardless of where they live or their personal circumstance.

 

For over 50 years, the New Jersey Family Planning League has championed reproductive freedom by supporting and collaborating with a network of providers, patients and communities across New Jersey to ensure that everyone has access to a wide range of high-quality, compassionate sexual and reproductive care — no matter their identity, income, or insurance status. We sustain and strengthen a trusted network of 22 agencies operating 68 health centers across New Jersey through funding, training and strategic guidance so care never disappears where it’s needed most. Learn more at njfpl.org.