Abortion Providers in Southern Illinois Urge Legislative Action During Short Lame Duck Session

Statement from Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, Hope Clinic for Women, CHOICES, and Alamo Women’s Clinic

“We, the abortion providers in Southern Illinois — two providers in the Metro-East and two new providers in Carbondale — are in crisis. Since Roe fell, we have been treading water amidst the onslaught of patients traveling from all around the region to access abortion care that is not available anymore in their home states. This region of Illinois needed relief six months ago and we finally see light at the end of the tunnel in this Lame Duck Session.

“We commend our elected leaders for putting forth comprehensive legislation that will bring necessary relief to our overburdened abortion care system. We urge our elected leaders to act without delay to pass an inclusive package, without using marginalized communities who are disproportionately harmed by abortion bans — transgender patients, women, people of color, and those with low incomes — as political bargaining chips.

“Providers and patients are navigating unprecedented times. What we once hypothetically planned for has now become our reality, and the impact and burden abortion bans have on providers and patients is a public health crisis that affects all Illinoisans. We urge Illinois lawmakers to move inclusive policies during the lame duck session that will expand our capacity and ensure all people can access abortion care no matter their income, zip code, or identity.”

Impact by the numbers

Post-Roe abortion access in Southern Illinois
- Wait times increased from three to four days to two and a half weeks
- 300+% increase in patients from outside the bi-state region (Missouri and Illinois)
- 50% increase of abortions later in pregnancy
- Nearly 80% increase in overall abortion patients