The last abortion clinic in Missouri will be able to remain open and operational, at least for a little over a month.
The month-long saga over whether or not the lone abortion clinic in Missouri will be allowed to remain open will now continue to at least August, as they were granted another month until the issue will be reviewed again.
The order from the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission notes that "three of DHSS' five stated failures rest, in whole or in part, on the absence of physician interviews."
Referencing the state's Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the clinic, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS), the commissioner's order states that their argument is insufficient to prompt the closure.
"In DHSS' interpretation, these provisions mean that it must deny RHS' application because it cannot determine RHS complied with applicable statutes and regulations without the interviews it seeks. At this point, we find DHSS' position unpersuasive," the order states.
(MORE: Missouri's only abortion clinic allowed to continue providing under judge's new order)The issue will be reviewed again at another hearing on Aug. 1.
This case started when the DHSS denied a license to the clinic, prompting a court order to temporarily remain open, which was then pushed back.
(MORE: Missouri could become 1st state with no abortion clinic)"We are relieved to have this last-minute reprieve, which means patients can continue accessing safe, legal abortion at Planned Parenthood in St. Louis for the time being," said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, an OBGYN who works at the clinic.
"This has been a week-to-week fight for our patients and every Missourian who needs access to abortion care. There are two things that remain unchanged in Missouri: the uncertainty our patients face, and our will to continue fighting for their right to access safe, legal abortion," McNicholas said in a statement issued by Planned Parenthood.
ABC News' Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report.