The appeals court judges also suspended the 2019 approval of the generic version of mifepristone. The company that sells the generic version, GenBioPro, told the high court that the majority of the nation's supply of the medication would "disappear overnight" if the appeals court ruling went into effect.

Related: Walgreens will not dispense abortion pills in 20 states that threatened legal action

The Justice Department and Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer, told the Supreme Court that restrictions imposed by the lower courts would effectively take mifepristone off the market for months as the FDA adjusted the medication's labeling to comply with the orders. This would deny women access to an FDA-approved drug that is a safe alternative to surgical abortions, they argued.

The court's majority decision to maintain the status quo means mifepristone remains available by mail delivery, and women can obtain the prescription medication without having to visit a doctor in person. However, in the dozen states that have effectively banned abortion over the past year, the drug will remain largely unavailable. Other states also have restrictions in place that are much tighter than FDA regulations.

President Joe Biden said his administration will fight to protect access to mifepristone in the ongoing legal battle in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. "I continue to stand by the Food and Drug Administration's evidence-based approval of mifepristone, and my administration will continue to defend FDA's independent, expert authority to review, approve and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs," he said

The case now will be heard in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has scheduled oral arguments for May 17.