National Planned Parenthood Leader Tours Minnesota Health Center Focused on Family Planning

St. Paul, MN—Alexis McGill Johnson, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, today toured a Planned Parenthood health center in St. Paul and spoke to staff about the challenges of meeting patient needs in an environment where access to sexual and reproductive health care is constantly changing. 

 Planned Parenthood North Central States, which covers a five-state region, has seen an increased demand for abortion care since the fall of Roe. Minnesota alone has experienced a 25% increase in abortions. Often overlooked in this increase, is the impact it has on other patient needs. To adapt to increased patient travel and expand access to all expert sexual and reproductive health care, PPNCS offers onsite, virtual, and mobile care. The tour at the Planned Parenthood health center off of Rice Street in Saint Paul, emphasized the way the nonprofit health care provider has adapted to shift services in a way that increases family planning services at Rice Street while increasing abortion appointment options at the other Saint Paul health center, located on Vandalia Street.

 “Alexis McGill Johnson is an unflinching leader in our movement to reimagine and rebuild a stronger, more robust health care system that affords every person access to the essential reproductive health care they need. We are beyond thrilled to have her here visiting our Rice Street health center,” said Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “With essential health care like abortion and gender-affirming care banned in states across the region, access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care has never been more important. To control their bodies and futures, people need access to birth control. They need cancer screenings. They need reproductive health care. And we are constantly working to break down barriers so patients can access the care they need.” 

 Minnesota last year enshrined reproductive freedom into state law, however, patients still face barriers to accessing essential care. Planned Parenthood is committed to building a health care system that meets the needs of all people, especially marginalized communities that already face significant barriers to accessing care, including Black and Indigenous people, the working class, and rural communities. 

 “Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood North Central States has stepped up to meet the gap in care. Under Ruth Richardson’s tenacious leadership, they provide resources for patients, and serve as a much-needed access point in Minnesota, where abortion care remains legal,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Amid ongoing attacks and the fallout of the Dobbs decision, the work of Planned Parenthood health centers is needed like never before — ensuring that patients can continue to access the full range of sexual and reproductive health care services to live the healthy lives and futures of their choosing.”

 PPNCS provides essential sexual and reproductive health care services, including abortion care, annual exams, cervical and breast cancer screenings, birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, HIV testing, PrEP and PEP, immunizations, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception, and gender-affirming care.

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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 24 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota).  Each year, we provide health care to nearly 100,000 people and health education to more than 50,000 people in our region.