CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- One local abortion clinic, Whole Woman's Health of Charlottesville, is joining others in suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Virginia has joined two other states in the fight to keep the abortion pill mifepristone accessible.

"The courts are throwing our health care system into chaos,” said Delegate Sally Hudson (D-57th).

The FDA approved the use of mifepristone decades ago, but a recent ruling out of Texas has left some clinics fighting for their patients. 

"Mifepristone has been widely used now, for more than 20 years. And it's the standard course of treatment for medication abortion. There is no reason that judges and attorneys should be litigating its safety in our courts. That work should be left up to medical providers and scientists as it has for years,” said Hudson.

Abortion providers, including Whole Woman's Health of Charlottesville, filed a lawsuit in federal court against the FDA on Monday, aimed at preserving access to mifepristone.

Specifically, this lawsuit seeks to make the FDA drop several long-standing restrictions on how the medication can be prescribed.

The most pressing things this lawsuit hopes to protect is the continued access to mifepristone virtually, by mail and in person, which, Hudson says is essential.

"Those are critical for abortion access in areas where there are fewer physician providers,” she said.

Hudson says it's concerning to have clinics now spend their time in court rather than with their patients. She says that this falls back on Virginia’s Attorney General, Jason Miyares.

"Our attorney general, Jason Miyares, chose not to join his colleagues nationwide in protecting mifepristone access for Virginia patients. And that's what the lawsuit that was filed yesterday is all about,” said Hudson. "Clinicians what to focus their time on treating their patients. But they're being forced to protect their patients in the courts. Because our attorney general isn't protecting Virginians himself. This is not how clinicians want to be spending their resources. They should be focused on patients.”

Virginia, Montana, and Kansas all filed suits, showing that there are states willing to fight to keep abortion medication available for those who need it.

The lawsuit is in its early stages and it's unknown when it could reach a verdict.

Virginia is still a safe haven for abortions, but Hudson says that these what she calls "extremist lawsuits" happening more frequently, it's cause for concern for abortions across the nation.

She says that this is why having elected officials who are proactive in protecting abortion is so important.