For Immediate Release: May 27, 2026
Contact: Jess Davidson, communications@aapd.com; 202-465-5528
WASHINGTON, DC — On May 14, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a May 1 Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Louisiana et al. v. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) et al. pending further litigation. The Fifth Circuit had ruled to reinstate a nationwide requirement that patients obtain Mifepristone in person at a health center, rather than by mail or at a pharmacy after receiving care via telemedicine. As a result, access to Mifepristone remains unchanged while the Court considers next steps.
While the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is relieved that the Supreme Court has blocked the decision by the 5th Circuit, AAPD is concerned about access to essential medication remaining at risk and about the continued attacks on reproductive rights, which can endanger the health and welfare of people with disabilities. AAPD signed onto an amicus brief in support of overturning or staying the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. It was filed with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 5.
Mifepristone is one of two medications used to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks after gestation and to help manage miscarriages. It may also be prescribed for certain other medical conditions, including Cushing syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and some cancers. In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, many states restricted access to Mifepristone. These efforts to restrict access to or ban Mifepristone have created barriers to effective treatment for many people with disabilities, whether they are seeking abortion care or other forms of health care.
Around 25 million adults in the United States rely on mail-order medication, including more than 6.8 million people with disabilities. Restricting telehealth disproportionately harms disabled individuals, who experience significant transportation, physical, and financial barriers to in-person care. Studies have shown that women with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities have a higher chance of negative outcomes during labor and delivery, as well as immediate postpartum dangers, including death. Research also indicates that 69% of disabled individuals encounter obstacles to accessing reproductive health care, and 44% of gynecology clinics are unable to accommodate patients with mobility disabilities. Mifepristone gives disabled people more control over the decision about whether to keep their pregnancies, which is especially important because of the higher risks they face during pregnancy.
“Equitable access to mail-order medication and telehealth services enables all patients with disabilities to receive care without significant barriers,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. “Lifting this stay and restricting access to mifepristone — or any essential, evidence-based treatment — would disproportionately harm disabled individuals, who already face greater challenges with coverage, transportation, provider bias, and affordability. Disability rights are rooted in autonomy, dignity, and the right to control one’s own body. We call on courts and policymakers to protect access to safe, evidence-based care — including abortion care — and to center the needs and rights of disabled individuals in all health policy decisions.”