New Law Defunding Planned Parenthood Forces Two Abortion Centers to Close

Ohio has been experiencing winning results thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law earlier this month by President Donald Trump. Planned Parenthood, not so much.

Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio announced closures of Springfield and Hamilton locations, effective August 1.

The announcement was made in a July 17 press release and included a statement from the president and CEO, Nan Whaley. Whaley ran against Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, in 2022 and lost by 25 points.

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Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio’s press release referred to the closures as “a direct result of the federal reconciliation bill passed earlier this month, which bars health care providers that offer abortion services from participating in the Medicaid program.”

When reached for comment, PPSWO directed The Daily Signal to comments from Whaley.

“Make no mistake: this was not a decision made by Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region,” said Whaley. “We took every possible step to keep these centers open, but the devastating impact of state and federal political attacks has forced us into this very difficult position.”

She also spoke to the role Planned Parenthood plays.

“Planned Parenthood was often the only trusted provider for comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care in these communities,” Whaley continued. “This decision—driven by politics, not public health—harms real people who already face barriers to care.”

“We’ve served Ohio for 96 years, and we aren’t going anywhere,” Whaley concluded. “As access to basic health care becomes more politicized, our mission becomes more critical.”

Whaley additionally shared her thoughts in posts over Instagram, referencing “state budget provisions under Dewine [sic].”

“Whaley said Ohio’s two-year state budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed, also influenced the decision to shutter the Springfield and Hamilton clinics. The budget includes a trigger to eliminate Medicaid coverage for about 770,000 low-income adults if the federal government stops covering at least 90% of the program,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

According to PPSWO, “thousands of low-income Ohioans will lose access to basic, preventive health care services such as STI testing and treatment, birth control, cancer screenings, and general wellness exams.” Planned Parenthood also claims to serve “patients who rely on its critical services Ohioans can’t access anywhere else.”

When it comes to other resources, Ohio Department of Health website advertises a “Reproductive Health & Wellness Program,” which includes resources for family planning.

Federally Qualified Health Centers are another resource, and play a key role in conversations about women’s health.

Meanwhile, abortions have increased for Planned Parenthood. The national 2023-2024 annual report shows that 402,230 abortions were performed at various facilities, a number which Dr. Michael New, a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute pointed out to The Daily Signal is “a record for them.”

The locations shutting down do not perform abortions. Planned Parenthood’s role in abortions and “gender-affirming care” is nevertheless referenced.

“Whaley said it was in the organization’s best interest to close the Springfield and Hamilton clinics to preserve access to abortion services and gender-affirming care for patients coming from across the region,” the Cincinnati Enquirer added.

New called it “unsurprising that Planned Parenthood chose to close two Ohio locations that did not perform abortions,” adding “[a]bortion is a very lucrative business for Planned Parenthood. Locations that do not perform abortions almost certainly generate less revenue and that likely explains Planned Parenthood’s decision to close them down.”

He similarly called it “interesting” that Whaley would reference “gender-affirming care,” and offered that “this likely represents a large potential revenue stream for Planned Parenthood.”

Referencing how the One Big Beautiful Bill defunded Planned Parenthood, New again emphasized the Planned Parenthood’s revenue and how it is “unsurprising” that “Planned Parenthood is prioritizing procedures that can generate the most income — not services that improve public health.”

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has been celebrating the One Big Beautiful Bill’s effect on Planned Parenthood.

In a statement for The Daily Signal, Political Communications Director Kelsey Pritchard acknowledgedthat judges are getting in the way, though there’s still a reason to celebrate:

Despite Planned Parenthood’s desperate legal attempt to hold on to over half a billion in annual taxpayer funding, the One Big Beautiful Bill’s provision defunding big abortion is already working. We celebrate the lives that will be protected as Planned Parenthoods in Ohio, Iowa, Florida and beyond are closing – and the nearly 200 more that are expected to close after Planned Parenthood loses in court.

“Americans don’t need abortion businesses masquerading as health care providers. Women on Medicaid will be far better served by the community health centers that outnumber Planned Parenthoods 15:1 in the U.S. and provide higher-quality, more comprehensive care,” she said.

LifeNews Note: Rebecca Downs writes for Daily Signal, where this column originally appeared.

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