Planned Parenthood is coming back to Louisiana, with the first reopening happening this fall in New Orleans. Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, says her network took over Louisiana following the closure of the last clinic in the state last September.
“We knew people still needed access to care. We were hearing from patients and supporters who wanted Planned Parenthood to come back, and so we found a way to make that happen,” Wales noted.
Wales says the New Orleans clinic will offer several services for women.
“We will offer a range of sexual and reproduction healthcare; from contraception to STI treatment and testing, to cancer screenings and well visits,” Wales said.
What the clinic will not provide, however, is abortion services, since those services are illegal in the state. But Wales says like all other clinics in states where the procedure is outlawed, they can facilitate travel to a Planned Parenthood in a state where the procedure is allowed.
“We are very used to seeing patients who have to cross state lines and who may express, ‘Hey, I’m looking for care;’ and we can connect them with resources that can help them get out of the state,” Wales explained.
Louisiana Right to Life issued the following statement today in response to reports that Planned Parenthood intends to return to Louisiana and open a facility in New Orleans.
Erica Inzina, Policy Director for Louisiana Right to Life, said:
“It is no surprise that Planned Parenthood, the leader of the abortion industry, is attempting to return to Louisiana. As they have made clear, they will send women outside Louisiana to have abortions. They will not miss the chance to increase business at their abortion super-centers in other states. Louisiana has chosen a better path: protecting unborn babies and supporting women and families with real, life-affirming help.
We are concerned that Planned Parenthood’s telehealth services may be violating Louisiana law if their medical providers are not licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana. Furthermore, Louisiana law prohibits health care providers from prescribing the abortion pill for elective abortion.
It is clear that Planned Parenthood insists on making abortion a key aspect of their services upon reopening. Planned Parenthood’s business model has no place in Louisiana’s pro-life future. We will continue to stand against the abortion industry in Louisiana.”
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