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* I’m sure more will come out on this. Lots of rumors floating around about the reasons. Also, as you’ll recall, Planned Parenthood of Illinois announced earlier this month that its president and CEO Jennifer Welch was stepping down. Emphasis in this press release was added by me…
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS RESTRUCTURES TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE FUTURE
PPIL Closing Four Health Centers, Downsizing Administrative Staff, Expanding Care at Key Locations and Increasing Patient Care Through TelehealthRealignment Needed due to Increase Patient Volume + Low Reimbursement Rates from Insurers + Rising Health Care Costs
CHICAGO – Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is facing a financial shortfall brought on by 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. To ensure financial health into the future, PPIL has made the difficult decision to close four health centers; Ottawa, Decatur, and Bloomington in Central Illinois and Englewood in Chicago. None of these health centers provide procedural abortion care.
Patients will be welcomed at the 13 other health centers across the state and PPIL is expanding patient care at Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, Roseland and Waukegan and through the PPDirect app to minimize patient disruption.Patients will be welcomed at the 13 other health centers across the state. PPIL is planning on expanding appointment availability and access at the Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, and Roseland health centers as well as expanding virtual options via telehealth appointments and the PPDirect app to minimize patient disruption. [Updated by PPIL]“Patient care is and will always be our number one priority,” said Interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois Tonya Tucker. “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.”
Illinois has seen the highest volume of abortion patients coming from other states. Since Roe was overturned in 2022, PPIL has seen a a 47% increase in overall abortion care patients and an unprecedented number of out-of-state patients traveling from more than 40 other states making up nearly a quarter (25%) of our overall abortion patients (before the Dobbs decision it was 3-5%). However, that increase in patient volume, coupled with low reimbursement rates from insurers and rising costs of providing care has resulted in PPIL needing to realign its health centers and staffing.
Appointments at the four health centers will end in March 2025. Patient appointments at Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, Roseland and Waukegan will expand to meet patient demand as needed.
PPIL is also downsizing its administrative staff proportionally to match the changes in the health centers. Where possible, health center staff being displaced by the closures will be offered comparable positions at other locations or transitioned to telehealth.
To meet patient needs through digital means, beginning in February 2025, PPIL is offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app. Currently, PPIL provides birth control, UTI treatment, at-home STI testing and emergency contraception through PPDirect. Adding medication abortion to the suite of services expands access, reduces wait times at health centers and provides the right care patients need wherever they are.
Patients using PPDirect fill out a questionnaire that is reviewed by a PPIL medical professional. PPIL either mails the medication abortion pills to the qualified patients or works with them to schedule an appointment at a health center. Patients can receive follow up care at a PPIL health center if needed and they can make an appointment through the PPDirect app.
“Offering medication abortion through the PPDirect app allows patients to connect with us through their phone,” said Dr. Virgil Reid, 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.”
PPIL has been around for 100 years and is committed to being here for our community’s future generations. The decision to close health centers and downsize staff is difficult but necessary to operate a sustainable organization that can continue to provide our community with essential health care and education. PPIL continues to offer medication and procedural abortion, birth control, gender-affirming care, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, at health centers across the state. For more information visit ppil.org.
Fascinating timing considering what’s going on in DC right now.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 10:43 am
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Wow. That’s disheartening given the state of things at this moment in time and Illinois being an oasis for so many women coming in for repro services from other states. I’m guessing they had challenges getting paid and reimbursed for services.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 10:57 am
If you look at their revenue sources over the past decade, PP has become far more reliant on contributions than program revenue. But they still have a strong balance sheet.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:04 am
===But they still have===
Had.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:10 am
Am I understanding their 2022-2023 annual report that they finished with a $10 million surplus, and now they’re in the red?
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:22 am
Would be interesting to hear more about the declining insurance reimbursements. Seems like they’re encouraging use of their app for remote appointments rather than in-person consultations for medication induced abortions. Might be that the reimbursement rate is the same for both?
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:35 am
I would never have expected this to happen in the state of Illinois. But, here we are. Go figure.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:46 am
Could someone please post the rumors? TIA
/s
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:54 am
PPIA has asked for an increase in the budget for the last four years surrounding family planning reimbursements. Makes me wonder where they’d be if legislators listened to them
Comment by LLCJ Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 11:57 am
It sounds like they rode the wave of surge funding after the Dobbs decision, and donor fatigue has set in. It is not a surprising spot to be in, but it is sad. I hope this change is enough to “right size” the organization and there are no further cuts coming.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 12:17 pm
Closing a PP branch in a college town like Bloomington-Normal makes no sense to me.
That is a place where affordable access to STD testing, birth control pills, and Plan B is very much needed.
I don’t understand how they can be broke right now unless people put all the money they used to put in Planned Parenthood into funding Dem politicians instead.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 12:36 pm
Wait. This line was struck from the press release. So patients will not be welcomed there? What is the communication and continuity of care plan they have in place if it’s not clear what provider the patient will be redirected to?
“Patients will be welcomed at the 13 other health centers across the state and PPIL is expanding patient care at Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, Roseland and Waukegan and through the PPDirect app to minimize patient disruption.”
Comment by Who else Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 12:36 pm
What is with the track changes in the press release? Did someone forget to accept changes before sending out?
Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 1:33 pm
This is not good. Expanding the availability of telehealth options reliant on the Postal Service is shaky, at best, given talks of using the Comstock Act to criminalize the mailing of abortion pills. Additionally, asking patients to travel from Decatur or Bloomington to Springfield or Peoria will be too much of a burden on so many low-income people who rely on PP’s services for birth control, STI testing/treatment, and cancer screenings.
Comment by Wisco Expat Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 3:05 pm
=== I don’t understand how they can be broke right now ===
The story indicates they had a 47% increase in clientele seeking abortion services over the past 12 months. That’s a lot more patients, requiring a lot more medical procedures, requiring a lot more doctors and a lot more medicine. Given that many clients of PPIL cannot afford to pay for services and prescriptions, and given that insurance corporations are reducing coverage, I can see how they could go from a surplus to a deficit in one year. And given the climate, it may well make sense to restructure for the time being.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 3:36 pm
In a State with a Governor who prides himself on his reproductive work.. where is he? He spent millions in other states on constitutional amendments for abortion. What about his own state?
Comment by MSW Wednesday, Jan 22, 25 @ 3:41 pm