“Medication abortion is safe, effective and legal. Mifepristone has been used safely for more than 20 years and is the gold standard. Here in Massachusetts, we are not going to let one extremist judge in Texas turn back the clock on this proven medication and restrict access to care in our state,” Gov. Healey said in a statement.

On Friday, a federal judge in Texas suspended a 20-year-old FDA approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill. As a response, a Washington state judge issued a ruling to maintain the availability of the pill. These oppositions could bring the case up to the Supreme Court and may lead to a ban of mifepristone across the country.

Mifepristone is the first of a two-drug regimen that can help terminate a pregnancy. Misoprostol is taken one or two days later to complete abortion via medication. The treatment accounts for half of abortions in the U.S., according to CNN. It can be used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone has uses other than abortion. It is used for miscarriages, to treat lupus and to reduce the risk of ulcers for instance.

“The action we are taking today protects access to mifepristone in Massachusetts and protects patients and providers from liability,” Gov. Healey added. “In Massachusetts, we stand for civil rights and freedom. We will always protect access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion.”

The Massachusetts government is working jointly with public universities and colleges to protect access to safe abortion medicine. Last week, the University of Massachusetts Amherst purchased around 15,000 doses of mifepristone to ensure coverage in the state for over a year.

“We are pleased to answer the Governor’s call to provide this vital assistance to the Commonwealth,” Marty Meehan, President of UMass and Kumble Subbaswamy, Chancellor of UMass Amherst, said in a news release. “Helping to ensure access to safe, effective, reproductive health care for the residents of Massachusetts is fully aligned with UMass Amherst’s long-standing mission to serve the Commonwealth.”

The April 10 executive order requires the Department of Public Health to help public universities and colleges implement a medication abortion readiness plan available to students. This includes providing students with abortion pills and referrals for abortion care services not provided by their university’s health center. The state is also setting up a Public University Health Center Sexual and Reproductive Health Preparation Fund, administered by the DPH.

Gov. Healey’s executive order reinforces a bill passed last July to protect access to abortion pills for students.