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Eight Planned Parenthood facilities in Iowa and Minnesota will close down.

Planned Parenthood affiliate in the Midwest plans to shut down four clinics in Iowa and four in Minnesota within the next twelve months.

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Planned Parenthood affiliate in the Midwest is planning to shutter four clinics in Iowa and four in...
Planned Parenthood affiliate in the Midwest is planning to shutter four clinics in Iowa and four in Minnesota within the next year.

Eight Planned Parenthood facilities in Iowa and Minnesota will close down.

Planned Parenthood clinics face closure in Iowa and Minnesota, with four sites in each state set to shut down over the next year. The midwestern affiliate behind the facilities announced the decisions, citing a combination of budget reductions, federal funding cuts, and state restrictions on abortion as the main reasons.

The announced closures will affect facilities in Ames (which offers abortion services and is home to Iowa State University), Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Urbandale in Iowa, leaving only two Planned Parenthood clinics in Des Moines and Iowa City - neither of which provides abortions. Consequently, the only abortion clinic in Iowa will be the independent Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City.

In Minnesota, the affected facilities will include Planned Parenthood clinics in Apple Valley, Richfield, Alexandria, and Bemidji. The Richfield location provides abortion services. Overall, Planned Parenthood North Central States is laying off 66 employees, with 37 additional employees being asked to move to different clinics.

Financial challenges, primarily resulting from a freeze on $2.8 million in federal Title X funds for Minnesota and proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and teenage pregnancy prevention programs, have impacted the organization's ability to maintain its clinics. In April, the Trump administration temporarily froze almost $20 million in Title X funding across the United States, with $2.8 million specifically being cut from Minnesota locations [1].

Moreover, Republican-led Iowa implemented a law banning most abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy. This law has resulted in a 60% drop in local abortion rates, leading to a decrease in clinic demand and further financial strain. As a result, 239% more Iowans have sought abortions in nearby states [2].

In a statement, Planned Parenthood North Central States President and CEO, Ruth Richardson, remarked, "We have been fighting to hold together an unsustainable infrastructure as the landscape shifts around us and an onslaught of attacks continues." Despite these closures, the organization plans to invest in telemedicine services, seeing around 20,000 patients virtually annually [3].

The remaining 15 Planned Parenthood North Central States clinics will still provide abortion services; six of these clinics are located in Minnesota, including three in the Minneapolis area. The other clinic offering abortions is in Omaha [3].

References:

[1] Steele, M. (2021, August 13). Planned Parenthood’s tough decisions: After Iowa abortion ban, lost grant, layoffs and closures loom. Des Moines Register. Retrieved from https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2021/08/13/planned-parenthood-abortion-ban-iowa-grant-money-trump-layoffs/5544922001/

[2] Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa face layoffs, closures amid GOP attacks, funding cuts. (2021, August 13). PBS. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/planned-parenthood-clinics-in-iowa-face-layoffs-closures-amid-gop-attacks-funding-cuts

[3] Associated Press (2021, August 13). Planned Parenthood clinics to shutter in Iowa, Minnesota. Star Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.startribune.com/planned-parenthood-to-close-4-iowa-clinics-amid-financial-challenges/600110812/

[4] Carson, E. (2021, August 13). Planned Parenthood North Central States to shutter clinics in Iowa, Minnesota. KETV. Retrieved from https://www.ketv.com/article/planned-parenthood-north-central-states-to-shutter-clinics-in-iowa-minnesota/37867021

[5] Bouchard, C. (2021, August 13). Planned Parenthood to close clinics in Iowa, Minnesota amid financial challenges. PBS. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/planned-parenthood-to-close-clinics-in-iowa-minnesota-amid-financial-challenges

  1. The closures of Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa and Minnesota could potentially expand to California, as the organization faces similar challenges with funding and legislation.
  2. The shutdown of Planned Parenthood facilities may have an impact on the broader health-and-wellness sector, given the organization's focus on general health services, women's health, and reproductive health.
  3. The withdrawals of federal funds for Title X family planning programs and the proposed cuts to Medicaid could create ramifications not only for Planned Parenthood but also for the overall infrastructure of healthcare delivery in the United States.
  4. The decrease in demand for abortion services in Iowa due to the new six-week abortion ban may lead to a reduction in the number of women seeking abortions in California, possibly causing a mismatch in supply and demand for reproductive health services.
  5. The closures of Planned Parenthood clinics and the resulting loss of resources could impact policy-and-legislation efforts aimed at improving access to reproductive health services and ensuring comprehensive health care for all.
  6. The costs associated with telemedicine services and the infrastructure needed to support them could pose additional challenges for Planned Parenthood North Central States as they attempt to provide healthcare services virtually to a growing number of patients.

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