By WMBD TV
BLOOMINGTON – The Planned Parenthood location in Bloomington just one of four that are closing statewide, the organization said Wednesday.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois said it will close the Bloomington location as well as ones in Ottawa and Decatur and Englewood in March.
The closures are a result of a financial shortfall due to “rising health care costs for in-person care, increase in patient volume needing financial assistance, uncertain patient care landscape under a new national political administration, and the need to create a sustainable future after the overturning of Roe v Wade,” the group said in a news release.
Those in need across Illinois can still go to the other 13 Planned Parenthood locations across the state. The organization will also be expanding appointment availability at its Peoria, Champaign, Springfield and Roseland locations.
“Patient care is and will always be our number one priority,” said Tonya Tucker, the group’s interim president and CEO. “We made plans for the patient surge however rising care costs and lower reimbursement rates from insurers is jeopardizing PPIL’s sustainability. Unfortunately, this is the reality many other Planned Parenthood affiliates are facing in the rapidly evolving health care environment.
“We are making the difficult decisions today so we can continue providing care tomorrow and well into the future,” she said.
Planned Parenthood said it will try and offer staff members at the closing locations new jobs at other locations or transition them to telehealth. They will also be downsizing their administrative staff.
Starting next month, Planned Parenthood Illinois will offer medication abortions through the PPDirect App. This will be added to the other services available through the app which includes birth control, UTI treatment, at-home sexual transmitted infections testing and emergency contraception.
“Offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app allows patients to connect with us through their phone,” said Dr. Virgil Reid, the group’s interim chief medical officer. “This expands access because patients can receive the same great care they associate with Planned Parenthood from the comfort of wherever they are in the state. And we are there to answer any questions or schedule an in-person appointment if needed.”
More information on Planned Parenthood Illinois is available on its website.
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