Are the marketing experts at Planned Parenthood highlighting a nonexistent crisis by claiming the largest chain of abortion facilities in the nation is facing multiple potential facility closures and financial deficits? Or is it merely a ploy to garner sympathy and more taxpayer funding?
Planned Parenthood Claims Financial Deficits, Closes Facilities
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) recently called upon sympathetic lawmakers to funnel more cash into their coffers due to a projected $8.6 million deficit within the next three years. The affiliate, which operates 15 centers, including abortion facilities across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, reportedly ended the year with a deficit of $5 million dollars.
Wendy Stark, president of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), told The New York Times that financial constraints have resulted in the closure of four facilities (Goshen, Staten island, Amsterdam, Cobleskill) along with executive pay cuts and consolidated job functions. The organization is also cutting back on its services – including halting certain (later) abortions.
The affiliate’s release stated, “Systemic failures in the U.S. health care system have yielded unprecedented challenges that are forcing many health care providers, including PPGNY, to take serious and immediate cost-saving measures and pursue long-term structural shifts.”
Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) is also claiming a need to consolidate facilities by closing certain centers; according to media reports, they have plans to “eliminate 36 positions across the region, including 9 current staff positions and 27 open roles.”
PPNCS plans to close three Iowa facilities while expanding services at its remaining clinics, QCTimes.com reported. According to the media outlet, Planned Parenthood claimed that “staffing shortages, funding limitations and the fluid nature of abortion laws in Iowa and across the Midwest have made it difficult to provide consistent care.” The operations change will also mean expanding and adding abortion services at Planned Parenthood’s remaining clinics in the state.
Citing “challenging times,” closures are also expected at Planned Parenthood Keystone, according to a news release from earlier this month.
“Over 70% of our patients choose medication abortion, and patients will continue to access this form of abortion care through our Bensalem health center as well as through telemedicine abortion,” Planned Parenthood stated in its release.
“Lisa Humes-Schulz, vice president of policy and communications for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, said in a statement that the affiliate is facing the same health care cost challenges, an underfunded federal family planning program, workforce shortages and rising labor costs,” reported the South Carolina Daily Gazette.
The Ruse: Planned Parenthood Was Already Restructuring
In May of 2023, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) made a “strategic decision” to restructure the organization by laying off staff at the national level and instead use those dollars to “build a powerful movement for abortion access at the local and state level.”
In other words, the corporation made internal decisions to become more political on abortion, then later claimed to have trouble hiring staff.
Further, in Planned Parenthood’s 2022-23 annual report (published in April of 2024), after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, the abortion corporation claimed it hired “90 patient navigators across 41 Planned Parenthood affiliates” which “helped more than 33,000 people get… transportation and travel support, financial assistance, and referrals” for abortions. Reportedly, 15,000+ people received assistance with travel costs, and 50,000+ received assistance in covering abortion costs.
It appears that Planned Parenthood hired extra staff to obtain abortion business, then funded abortions — and then sought sympathy about layoffs and facility closures.
Planned Parenthood Was Already Expanding Telehealth
The abortion industry is maximizing profits with its self-initiated “no-test” abortion pill protocol, which fails to confirm the gestational age of the baby or rule out dangerous ectopic pregnancies. And they are maximizing profits with mail-order and pharmacy dispensing options. Today, the abortion corporation, which now claims 70% of its abortion business is due to the abortion pill, has been gearing up with telehealth abortion, which could explain the closure of more facilities.
Planned Parenthood rolled out its national telehealth program in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing that Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands would be a national telemedicine hub.
The expansions were noted in the corporation’s 2019 plan, which stated (emphasis added): “Planned Parenthood will expand services in states where abortion is likely to remain legal and accessible, and invest in technology and other resources to help people living in hostile states access abortion, no matter what. We’ll do this through investing in a Regional Access Network, expanding where we offer telemedicine, and leveraging technology and innovation to help connect people to services.”
Just a few years later, Planned Parenthood’s 2022-23 annual report acknowledged that 49 affiliates were offering “telehealth” services. This is a slight dip from the number of affiliates offering it just a year prior.
According to Planned Parenthood’s president, “In 19 states where abortion is still legal, Planned Parenthood affiliates provide medication abortion via telehealth, allowing people who live far from health centers in those states to get the care they need without taking the time and resources to travel.”
Abortions by telehealth may not properly diagnose gestational age or other medical factors which could be seen with in-person care. This has even led to the filing of lawsuits or allegations by some abortion clients.
Telehealth abortion through Planned Parenthood is a safe & private way to end a pregnancy.
Swipe to learn more about what to expect from a telehealth appointment & visit our website to get care 💙 https://t.co/YoZD1wcsYB#PPSNE #PlannedParenthood #Telehealth #CareNoMatterWhat pic.twitter.com/J47UMism1c
— PlannedParenthoodSNE (@PPSNE) August 24, 2024
Recently, Planned Parenthood’s former research arm and “special affiliate”— the Guttmacher Institute — promoted the idea of “ending the Hyde Amendment,” as have multiple other pro-abortion organizations. The Hyde Amendment is a pro-life rider passed in 1976 which prevents federal dollars from funding most abortions.
Planned Parenthood, along with willing pro-abortion propagandists in the media, are likely using the very closures and deficits they created to push for more taxpayer funds behind the scenes, including the ending of Hyde — and if history is a teacher, the ruse just may work.
