Planned Parenthood is closing its large abortion facility in Des Moines, Iowa, less than a year after closing three of its other facilities in the state.
Last year, Planned Parenthood North Central States announced its plan to close three facilities due to supposed restructuring. Despite claiming they committed 9% more abortions since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was decided in 2022, overturning Roe v. Wade, they said the increased demand led to staffing shortages. The remaining facilities would be in Ames, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids in Iowa, as well as in Omaha, Nebraska. “I must emphasize that, while the number of Planned Parenthood health centers will decrease, these changes will increase the number of patients that we can see,” spokesperson Mazie Stilwell said at the time.
Yet now, one of the remaining facilities in Des Moines is closing, too. And again, the corporation claims it was due to staffing shortages.
We Are Iowa reported the Rosenfield Health Center has closed permanently, leaving one facility left in Des Moines. That remaining facility is in the neighborhood of Drake University, making it well-poised to continue it business with college students. Staff will reportedly be split between the Drake facility and the Ames facility.
“We have added abortion services to our Ames health center. Eventually, abortion services will be moved to our Susan Knapp Health Center in the Drake neighborhood once we find a new location that fits our needs,” PPNCS Communications Manager Sheena Dooley said. Stillwell added, “This plan increases float staff in your health centers to meet the staffing needs. The staff will rotate between locations and fill multiple roles to better serve our patients in order to expand abortion access in Iowa and Nebraska.”
The Iowa Supreme Court agreed last year to hear an appeal after the state’s heartbeat law was blocked. Lawmakers passed legislation protecting virtually all preborn children from abortion last summer, but the abortion industry immediately sued, and Judge Joseph Seidlin put a temporary injunction on the law. The Supreme Court ruling on the issue came down to a 3-3 split, allowing the injunction to stand — meaning abortions can continue to be committed through 20 weeks in Iowa.
