All Louisiana Planned Parenthood Facilities to Shut Down by September 30

Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast has announced that it will close its last two clinics in Louisiana, located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The organization will discontinue all services in the state by September 30, as shared on Monday.

The recent closures signify a significant shift, marking the end of over forty years of support for countless residents in Louisiana. Many individuals depended on Planned Parenthood for essential services related to sexual and reproductive health, such as STI testing, cancer screenings, birth control, and counseling.

"This is not a choice we sought; it is one we were compelled to confront due to the ongoing political conflict," stated Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast CEO Melaney Linton. "Those lawmakers bear sole responsibility for the closure of each health center, the patients left without care, the undetected cancers, and the untreated infections."

Linton pointed to the closures as a result of what she termed "relentless political assaults," highlighting state and federal initiatives aimed at reducing Medicaid reimbursements and ultimately defunding the organization. "Every health center closure, every patient who goes without care, every undetected cancer and untreated infection is on those lawmakers' hands," Linton added.

In 2023, Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Louisiana reported delivering care during over 10,600 patient visits, serving nearly 18,000 individuals, according to a spokesperson. Among the highlights were almost 30,000 STI tests conducted, over 1,700 screenings aimed at cancer prevention, and more than 14,000 visits related to birth control, which included approximately 4,200 vasectomies performed. During that period, the organization uncovered 76 precancerous conditions.

Despite being a frequent target in political discussions, Planned Parenthood's primary focus in Louisiana has been on providing preventive and primary care services. The recent closures have created significant barriers for countless low-income and uninsured patients throughout the state.

This development follows similar reductions in nearby Texas, where the Gulf Coast branch recently closed two clinics in Houston and transferred the operations of four additional clinics to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

“We are not the first Planned Parenthood affiliate to confront this situation,” Linton stated, “and we certainly will not be the last.”

Across the country, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has issued a stark warning that political and legal challenges—particularly the implications of former President Donald Trump’s suggested cuts to Medicaid funding—may lead to as many as 60% of its affiliates needing to reduce their operations or shut down completely.

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