Planned Parenthood Closing 4 Minnesota Health Centers Amid Federal Funding Threats

Planned Parenthood Closing 4 Minnesota Health Centers Amid Federal Funding Threats

Planned Parenthood North Central States is also closing four locations in Iowa.

Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) is closing eight health centers and laying off dozens of staff members in the wake of major funding cuts by the Trump administration.

The reproductive and sexual health provider said that it will close four locations in Minnesota and four in Iowa as it consolidates its operations.

It will result in 66 staff being laid off, and another 37 being offered reassignment, with the organization having already reduced its headcount by 35 through gradual attrition.

The health centers closing over the coming year are as follows:

• Ames Health Center – Ames, Iowa
• Alexandria Health Center – Alexandria, Minnesota
• Apple Valley Health Center – Apple Valley, Minnesota
• Bemidji Health Center – Bemidji, Minnesota
• Cedar Rapids Health Center – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Richfield Health Center – Richfield, Minnesota
• Sioux City Health Center – Sioux City, Iowa
• Urbandale Health Center – Urbandale, Iowa

That will leave 10 locations remaining in Minnesota:

• Brooklyn Park Health Center
• Duluth Health Center
• Eden Prairie Health Center
• Mankato Health Center
• Minneapolis Health Center
• Moorhead Health Center
• Rochester Health Center
• St. Cloud Health Center
• St. Paul Health Center - Vandalia
• Rice Street Health Center (St. Paul)

The organization claims that the changes come as "patient needs and preferences have changed, the broken aspects of our health care system have intensified, the organization’s Minnesota Title X funds have been frozen, and the U.S. House voted to advance a reconciliation package that defunds Planned Parenthood."

PPNCS says that it was informed in April that $2.8 million of Title X funding in Minnesota was frozen, saying it was the "only federal program dedicated to providing affordable birth control and other reproductive health care to people no matter the person’s income or insurance status."

"The Health and Human Services budget now proposes additional severe cuts, including the elimination of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program which provides over $773,000 annually for education and outreach in Iowa and Nebraska," it adds.

"Meanwhile, Congress is advancing a reconciliation package that would defund Planned Parenthood and slash Medicaid – threatening access to care for the more than 30% of our patients who rely on Medicaid, among other impacts."

Reproductive health care has become increasingly targeted for funding cuts by Republicans, intensifying following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in 2022, ending federal protections for abortion care.

Planned Parenthood, which provides a number of sexual health and women's services outside of abortion, claims the restructuring will allow it to "build a strong network of health centers that consistently deliver expert sexual and reproductive health care," saying the centers that remain currently serve 82% of its patient population.

"My heart hurts as we announce the closure of health centers and the departure of trusted and talented colleagues, but our patients come first—always," said Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States.

"We have been fighting to hold together an unsustainable infrastructure as the landscape shifts around us and an onslaught of attacks continues. We know that many of our patients would have nowhere to turn if every Planned Parenthood health center were to disappear from their state. Heart wrenching and hard decisions today will ensure Planned Parenthood is here for years to come. Make no mistake: care may look different but Planned Parenthood North Central States is here to stay."
SOURCE: Bring Me The News