Two years post-Roe, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England remains a trusted, provider sexual and reproductive health care 

(Portland, MAINE) -- Monday, June 24, 2024, will mark the two-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that revoked federal protections for abortion and sent the country into a reproductive health care crisis. Since then, 21 states have enacted bans or near total bans on abortion, and lawmakers in some states have acted to ban or restrict related care including gender-affirming health care, IVF, and contraception. 

Attacks on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care have also continued in the courts – with the U.S. Supreme Court last week ruling against politically-motivated plaintiffs seeking to ban medication abortion, sending the case back to the lower court. The Supreme Court is also set to rule on a case that challenges federal protections for emergency medical care for pregnant people (EMTALA).  

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) continues to navigate this tumultuous landscape while offering a full range of reproductive health services, including abortion, to patients across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.   

In the 2023 fiscal year, 8% of PPNNE’s abortion patients traveled 100 miles or more to access care at their health centers, including 7% who came from another state. PPNNE saw patients from as far away as Georgia, Texas, and Florida, as well as patients from every corner of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. PPNNE provided nearly $4 million of discounted and free health care to their patients. Fifty-six percent of the patients served had low incomes, and more than 10% of the 42,520 total visits provided were via telehealth. 

Statement from Nicole Clegg, Interim CEO, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England:
“In the years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned nearly 50 years of precedent and revoked federal protections for abortion, we have witnessed the devastating consequences of abortion bans and attacks on sexual and reproductive health care. 

During this reproductive health care crisis, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England has scaled up our operations to serve our patients, which has included increasing access to abortion care at our health centers. Everyone deserves access to this essential health care, no matter what state they live in. Planned Parenthood will continue to do everything we can to provide patients with the sexual and reproductive care and resources they need – no matter what.”  

Statement from PPNNE Patient:
“I had the most amazing experience I've ever had at a doctor’s office. The most professional, kind group of women took care of me. I was so nervous, and everyone was so willing to help me make an informed decision. It was very apparent this was MY doctor’s appointment. I got to make my own decisions and that is such an amazing feeling. Wonderful staff and environment with beautiful encouragement and kind words considering how nervous I was.”

In the past year, PPNNE has: 

• Expanded locations offering medication abortion services to the Derry, New Hampshire and Brattleboro, Vermont health centers; abortion services are now available at 12 of PPNNE’s 16 health centers, including telehealth.  

• Began offering vasectomy services at the Portland, Maine and Manchester, New Hampshire health centers, expanding the service from Burlington, VT site only. 

• Provided care via 4,546 telehealth visits across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont 

• Provided more than 32,000 tests for sexually transmitted infections to patients across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont 

###   

About Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: PPNNE is the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In FY23, PPNNE provided care to more than 31,000 patients for more than 42,000 visits. There are 15 health centers across the region. PPNNE was named a 2021 and 2022 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.