Planned Parenthood Closes Clinics in Louisiana
BATON Rouge, La. – On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood announced the closure of two clinics in Louisiana, citing increasing financial and political pressures that have made it unfeasible to continue operations after more than 40 years.
With these closures, Louisiana becomes the most populous state without a Planned Parenthood location.
This decision also underscores broader concerns from Planned Parenthood regarding potential widespread closures across the nation, driven by cuts to Medicaid funding in President Trump’s tax and spending plans.
The organization has ceased its advocacy efforts in Louisiana, where Republican leaders have been supportive of this shutdown.
“This decision wasn’t due to a lack of need, but rather a relentless political assault that made sustainable operations impossible in Louisiana,” said Melaney Linton, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.
Supporters warn that the closures will negatively impact health services in Louisiana. Although Planned Parenthood has not provided abortion services in the state, its clinics catered to 11,000 patients last year, offering essential health services in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Healthcare professionals express concern that this exit will worsen reproductive healthcare availability in a state already plagued by the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, according to disease control and prevention data. Additionally, a report from Louisiana’s Legislative Audit Office highlighted a significant shortage of OB-GYNs and the state’s healthcare desert.
Warning of More Closures
Trump’s budget plan entails a one-year cessation of Medicaid payments to certain abortion providers. While Planned Parenthood is pursuing legal avenues for financial recovery, officials warn that around a third of the nearly 600 clinics nationwide could be forced to close.
Earlier this year, five clinics in California, as well as eight in Iowa and Minnesota, shut their doors. Recently, affiliates in Wisconsin announced they would halt abortion services, and those in Arizona would suspend Medicaid-funded services.
With this move, Louisiana joins Wyoming, North Dakota, and Mississippi as states lacking such clinics.
“It’s a victory for the baby, a victory for the mother, a victory for life!” tweeted Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Tuesday.
Impact on Medicaid Patients
Planned Parenthood offers various services, including cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. While federal Medicaid funds do not cover abortion, affiliates rely on these funds for their other services.
In Louisiana, where poverty rates are among the highest in the nation, 60% of Planned Parenthood patients utilized Medicaid.
Last year, the Louisiana clinics conducted nearly 30,000 STD tests, provided 14,400 birth control visits, conducted 1,800 cancer screenings, and performed 655 ultrasounds.
Jordyn Martin shared that she turned to Planned Parenthood years ago when she lacked affordable medical options. At the clinic, she received a free HIV test and was diagnosed shortly after. “The organization saved my life,” she said, noting her continued volunteer work with them.
Connecting Patients with Alternatives
On Tuesday, outside the New Orleans clinic, supporters gathered to express gratitude for the organization that has served Louisiana for 40 years. Staff members worked diligently to connect patients with alternative healthcare providers until the closure.
Starting Wednesday, calls to Louisiana Planned Parenthood will be redirected to the nearest clinic in Texas or Arkansas.
Michelle Ellenberg, with Lift, a New Orleans-based abortion rights group, mentioned that people are seeking assistance in finding new clinics. She expressed concern about the strain this will place on an already insufficient healthcare system.
“It’s uncertain whether patients will be able to secure timely appointments or access the full range of services that Planned Parenthood offered,” she noted.
