Policy Brief: Updates on Mifepristone and Related Legislation
Overview of Mifepristone Access
Mifepristone is one of two medications used in medication abortion and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use through 10 weeks of gestation. The medication can be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to patients, making it an essential option for accessible reproductive health care. Medication abortions account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions nationwide, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Federal Context and Legal Challenges
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, limiting access to medication abortion—particularly mifepristone—has become a central strategy of the anti-abortion movement. In 2024, anti-abortion groups petitioned the Supreme Court to reinstate pre-2016 prescribing restrictions. The Court rejected that effort, maintaining current prescribing guidelines.
Medical Consensus on Safety and Efficacy
Leading medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Medical Association (AMA), submitted briefs affirming that mifepristone is safe and effective. Data show that serious complications occur in fewer than 0.32% of cases, and the risk of death is extremely rare. Peer-reviewed studies and FDA findings continue to support these conclusions.
New Federal Review and Emerging Concerns
In December 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the FDA would conduct a new review of abortion medications following pressure from anti-abortion groups. Reproductive rights advocates warn that this review could lead to new national restrictions on medication abortion. A frequently cited study behind these renewed calls for restriction was published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank. The report—not peer-reviewed and released only on the organization’s website—claims an 11% rate of serious adverse events, contradicting established scientific evidence and the FDA’s own data showing less than a 0.5% rate.
Ohio Legislative Developments
At the state level, the Ohio House passed House Bill 324 on November 19 by a vote of 59–28. The bill directs the Ohio Department of Health to identify drugs causing “severe adverse effects” in more than 5% of users based on insurance claims, FDA data, and patient reports.
If a drug meets that threshold, it could only be prescribed in person, ending telehealth and mail-order access. This measure could significantly restrict the use of medication abortion in the state. HB 324 now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
Upcoming Repro Shabbat February 2026
NCJW/Cleveland will participate in the national Repro Shabbat, an annual Shabbat dedicated to celebrating the Jewish value of reproductive freedom.
Join us for a Zoom Repro Shabbat event on Friday, February 13, from 12–1 PM, focusing on Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). The discussion will feature Dov Nelson, Communications and Outreach Associate at Preterm, and Deb Kline, Director of Cleveland Jobs with Justice.
Join us on Thursday, February 12th at 6:30pm for a fun Valentine’s Day card-making party. We’ll send loving but powerful messages to RFK Jr. and our legislators urging them to safeguard access to mifepristone and legal abortion.
