Planned Parenthood to Close Clinics in Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Planned Parenthood will cease all operations in Louisiana, shutting down its reproductive health clinics in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, effective September 30, 2023. This decision marks the end of over 40 years of service to the community, as the organization first began its operations in Louisiana in 1984.

The nonprofit’s clinics have been crucial in providing essential healthcare services such as birth control, STD testing, and cancer screenings, addressing the health needs of many individuals in the state. Over the past year, these clinics served more than 10,600 patients. Despite their extensive offerings, the clinics never held licenses to provide abortion services within Louisiana.

Political pressures have played a significant role in this closure, with leadership from Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast indicating that what they term “political warfare” has hindered their operations and funding. The shutdown aligns with a broader trend as Planned Parenthood faces similar challenges nationwide, particularly exacerbated by funding cuts linked to policies initiated during the Trump administration. More than half of Planned Parenthood’s patients rely on Medicaid, which has been under threat due to efforts to slash federal funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood.

Despite a federal judge temporarily blocking efforts to terminate Medicaid payments to such clinics, the obstacles continue to mount. In addition to the Louisiana clinics’ closure, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast plans to shut down two clinics in Houston, Texas. They will also transition remaining clinics to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

The Louisiana clinics encountered significant challenges in providing abortion services. They faced lengthy legal battles over obtaining state approval for necessary licenses, compounded by the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, which resulted in Louisiana enforcing a near-total abortion ban. Even in the wake of these legislative changes, Planned Parenthood made efforts to support patients seeking out-of-state abortion care, which included covering associated costs.

Impact of Funding Policies

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed during the Trump administration, aimed specifically at cutting Medicaid payments to healthcare providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid, with critics arguing that it targeted Planned Parenthood directly. The ongoing funding crisis, compounded by political maneuvering, has made it increasingly difficult for Planned Parenthood to sustain its operations in Louisiana and beyond.

Future of Louisiana Clinics

As Planned Parenthood prepares for these closures, the future of their South Claiborne property in New Orleans remains uncertain. There are concerns among donors that any potential sale of the property could conflict with the terms under which they made prior donations.

In the lead-up to their closure, Planned Parenthood has committed to keeping their clinics operational until the end of September 2023 to ensure continuity of care for their patients and staff. This decision underscores their ongoing commitment to the community they’ve served for decades.