Planned Parenthood North Central States tells KCCI abortion services will remain in Iowa even after four of its centers in the state close in the coming months. According to a spokesperson with Planned Parenthood North Central States, medication abortion will be available at Planned Parenthood's Susan Knapp Health Center in Des Moines, and abortion services will return to the organization's Iowa City health center. The spokesperson says this will occur around July 1, 2025, which is when most services will be moved out of Planned Parenthood's four Iowa health centers that are set to close. Those include centers in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Urbandale. Currently, the location in Ames is the only location in the state offering abortion services. The closures were announced late last week by Planned Parenthood North Central States, which cited a freeze in federal funds, budget cuts proposed in Congress and state restrictions on abortion as the reasons why. Outside of abortion, Planned Parenthood centers offer a number of resources such as birth control, emergency contraception, HIV services, mental health, STD testing and treatment, and more. Both Iowa Abortion Access Fund and Iowa Right to Life agree that those services are important. However, the organizations differ when it comes to solutions for where Iowans can go to still receive those services when the four centers close. "When they shut down, we are all put at risk because health care in Iowa and in America is not affordable," said Lyz Lenz, a board chair for Iowa Abortion Access Fund. Lenz points to the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City as a place where people can go to receive services. The not-for-profit independent organization offers a number of services: abortion, birth control, gynecological, STI testing, trans health initiatives, and more. Kristi Judkins, Iowa Right to Life's executive director, points to pregnancy resource centers as a source for people instead. "They do the same things with the exception of abortion that Planned Parenthood does," said Judkins. "They do the screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. They are there to provide guidance and assistance." Lenz says, however, that those centers are not health care clinics and can't provide exactly what Planned Parenthood centers do."People who work there are not health care workers, so they're not bound by HIPAA," said Lenz. "So you don't have privacy when you walk in there." However, Judkins says pregnancy resource centers work to provide options. "Pregnancy resource centers are more aware than ever that their resources and services have to be accurate and legitimate," said Judkins. "They're going to do the referrals in the community if they don't actually have a physician that's coming in to be the one to provide the assistance within the pregnancy resource Center itself."
Planned Parenthood North Central States tells KCCI abortion services will remain in Iowa even after four of its centers in the state close in the coming months.
According to a spokesperson with Planned Parenthood North Central States, medication abortion will be available at Planned Parenthood's Susan Knapp Health Center in Des Moines, and abortion services will return to the organization's Iowa City health center. The spokesperson says this will occur around July 1, 2025, which is when most services will be moved out of Planned Parenthood's four Iowa health centers that are set to close. Those include centers in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, and Urbandale.
Currently, the location in Ames is the only location in the state offering abortion services.
The closures were announced late last week by Planned Parenthood North Central States, which cited a freeze in federal funds, budget cuts proposed in Congress and state restrictions on abortion as the reasons why.
Outside of abortion, Planned Parenthood centers offer a number of resources such as birth control, emergency contraception, HIV services, mental health, STD testing and treatment, and more.
Both Iowa Abortion Access Fund and Iowa Right to Life agree that those services are important. However, the organizations differ when it comes to solutions for where Iowans can go to still receive those services when the four centers close.
"When they shut down, we are all put at risk because health care in Iowa and in America is not affordable," said Lyz Lenz, a board chair for Iowa Abortion Access Fund.
Lenz points to the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City as a place where people can go to receive services. The not-for-profit independent organization offers a number of services: abortion, birth control, gynecological, STI testing, trans health initiatives, and more.
Kristi Judkins, Iowa Right to Life's executive director, points to pregnancy resource centers as a source for people instead.
"They do the same things with the exception of abortion that Planned Parenthood does," said Judkins. "They do the screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. They are there to provide guidance and assistance."
Lenz says, however, that those centers are not health care clinics and can't provide exactly what Planned Parenthood centers do.
"People who work there are not health care workers, so they're not bound by HIPAA," said Lenz. "So you don't have privacy when you walk in there."
However, Judkins says pregnancy resource centers work to provide options.
"Pregnancy resource centers are more aware than ever that their resources and services have to be accurate and legitimate," said Judkins. "They're going to do the referrals in the community if they don't actually have a physician that's coming in to be the one to provide the assistance within the pregnancy resource Center itself."