Two Planned Parenthood offices in the Cincinnati area are closing their doors following the Trump administration’s Title X “gag rule.”
Kersha Deibel, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio, says the Western Hills and Springdale locations are closing as a result of fallout over the Trump administration’s rule that Title X grant recipients cannot talk about abortion.
“Both of our health centers provide vital, preventative health care services – STI testing, cancer screenings, birth control – to nearly 6,000 people a year,” Deibel says.
It is with great sadness that we announce the Springdale and Western Hills health centers will be forced to close after Friday, September 20th. We care deeply about the health of our patients and will be available to continue providing health care services at one of our nearby
— Planned Parenthood (@PPSWO) September 9, 2019
The Department of Health and Human Services announced in July it would begin enforcing the rule banning federal dollars from going to health providers that refer patients for abortions, as well as a requirement that clinics maintain separate finances from faciliites that provide abortions.
As a result, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio said it could no longer provide birth control, HIV and STD testing, and other services with federal money from the Title X grant program. The organization said that more than 60,000 low-income Ohioans received health screenings and birth control with the help of those funds.
Mike Gonidakis of Ohio Right To Life says it is encouraging news that Ohio women are leaving Planned Parenthood and securing health care elsewhere.
Deibel says neither of the two closing locations provided abortion services, but their patients can still access care at the Cincinnati health center where abortions are provided.
