Latest news with #PPNCS
Axios
24-05-2025
- Health
- Axios
Planned Parenthood to close 8 centers across Iowa, Minnesota amid federal funding cuts
Planned Parenthood North Central States said Friday that it plans to close over a third of its health centers across Minnesota and Iowa and lay off dozens of staff members in light of looming federal funding cuts and other budget constraints. State of play: The announcement from Minnesota's largest abortion provider came just one day after the U.S. House passed a reconciliation bill that it says would "defund" Planned Parenthood and make deep cuts to Medicaid funding. Driving the news: Leaders of the regional affiliate cited that move, along with the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.8 million in Title X funds used for birth control and cancer screenings and a proposal to cut teen pregnancy prevention aid as key factors in the decision to consolidate its centers. Shifting patient preferences and broader challenges facing the health care sector, including stagnant reimbursement rates and staff shortages, also contributed, it said in a release. By the numbers: Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) says it provides sexual and reproductive health care, including abortions, to an estimated 93,000 people across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota each year. Over 30% of its patients rely on Medicaid, per a release. Between the lines: While federal funds generally cannot be used for abortions, critics of abortion rights have long sought to prevent any taxpayer money from flowing to the organization. What they're saying: PPNCS president Ruth Richardson said the "heart wrenching" decision to consolidate operations was meant to "ensure Planned Parenthood is here for years to come." "We have been fighting to hold together an unsustainable infrastructure as the landscape shifts around us and an onslaught of attacks continues," she said in a statement. Zoom in: The list of eight sites slated to close in the coming year includes several in the Twin Cities metro. Four Iowa health care centers — including its only facility that provides abortions in that state — and two in Greater Minnesota will also shutter: Ames Health Center (Ames, Iowa) Alexandria Health Center (Alexandria, Minnesota) Apple Valley Health Center (Apple Valley, Minn.) 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) Plus: PPNCS will also lay off 66 staff members and offer 37 others the opportunity to be reassigned as part of the reorganization. Zoom out: Minnesota has seen an increase in both abortions and out-of-state patients seeking abortion care in the wake of the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The bottom line: Planned Parenthood said its 15 remaining health centers across the chapter's region, including about a dozen in Minnesota and Iowa, will remain open.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Planned Parenthood closing 4 Minnesota health centers amid federal funding threats
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 head count 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."
