“Make no mistake: this was not a decision made by Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region,” said Nan Whaley, president and CEO. “We took every possible step to keep these centers open, but the devastating impact of state and federal political attacks has forced us into this very difficult position.”
Trump’s bill bans health care providers that offer abortion services and received more than $800,000 in reimbursements from the federal government in fiscal year 2023 from accepting Medicaid dollars for other kinds of care for one year.
The Hamilton and Springfield clinics see thousands of patients every year, according to Planned Parenthood. As a result, low-income Ohioans who utilized those health centers will lose access to basic, preventative health care, like STI testing and treatment, birth control, cancer screenings and general wellness exams.
“Because Medicaid only covers family planning and preventive health care services, and Springfield and Hamilton primarily offer those services, we had to scale back our operations to offset the large patient loss without our long-term sustainability in mind."
Credit: Joseph Cooke
Credit: Joseph Cooke
Nationally, Planned Parenthood reports that around 3% of its services are for abortion. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio spokesperson Maya McKenzie said the percentage for the region “is fluid depending on the month,” adding that “as an organization, we try not to minimize the importance of this work by comparing it other services because we run the risk of stigmatizing this form of health care, when it’s a service we’re proud to provide and is solely influenced by the need of the community. ”
The closures will take effect on Aug. 1, and patients have been notified through a health center letter and messages through MyChart.
The organization’s Southwest Ohio region has, until Aug. 1, six locations, McKenzie said. In addition to the soon-to-close Hamilton and Springfield centers, the agency has two health centers and two surgical centers, one each in Dayton and the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati.
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio does not perform abortions at the Hamilton and Springfield centers.
“The decision to close the Springfield and Hamilton centers was not one we took lightly,” said McKenzie, adding the state and federal government’s action is “forcing the hand of abortion providers.”
“Because Medicaid only covers family planning and preventive health care services, and Springfield and Hamilton primarily offer those services, we had to scale back our operations to offset the large patient loss without our long-term sustainability in mind.”
Planned Parenthood was “often the only trusted provider” for reproductive and sexual health care in these communities, Whaley said, adding that “this decision — driven by politics, not public health — harms real people who already face barriers to care.”
The Cincinnati Right to Life celebrated the health center closures.
“Every time a Planned Parenthood closes, lives are saved and fewer lies are told,” said Cincinnati Right to Life Executive Director Laura Strietmann. “Ohioans do not need this preborn child-killing business. Women need love, support and true health care at one of the hundreds of other Federally Qualified Health Centers or from one of Ohio’s many free pregnancy centers. We have always shared the truth: abortion is not health care.”
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio officials said the organization’s human resources team will support staff at the health centers’ closing. Not all positions can be retained, but officials said every effort is being made to minimize layoffs. The organization does not anticipate additional closures at this time.
“We’ve served Ohio for 96 years, and we aren’t going anywhere,” said Whaley, the former Dayton mayor. “As access to basic health care becomes more politicized, our mission becomes more critical.”
This news outlet reached out to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio to see if it plans to close any other locations within its region but did not hear back before deadline.
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