ROCHESTER 鈥� This week, the Trump administration began withholding federal dollars for health services at Planned Parenthood sites across the country, including in Minnesota.
鈥淭his decision is really heartbreaking for a number of reasons,鈥� said Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, which encompasses Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
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Several affiliates for Planned Parenthood 鈥� the nonprofit reproductive health and abortion care provider that operates almost 600 clinics nationwide 鈥� received notices Monday, March 31, of a temporary withholding of their Title X funding, .
The reason? 鈥淎lleged violations of executive orders related to diversity, equity and inclusion and immigration,鈥� Richardson said.
Title X is a federal program that for non-abortion family planning services, including testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, birth control, and screening for breast and cervical cancers.
Minnesota Planned Parenthoods鈥� share of Title X funding amounts to $2.8 million, Richardson said, roughly 3% to 4% of its overall budget.
鈥淚n 2024, Title X helped over 38,000 Minnesota patients get that access to care,鈥� she said.
Richardson said uses sliding scale fees, adjusting the cost of a patient鈥檚 services based on their income. Those earning less pay less for their care.
鈥淥f our patients that visit our Rochester Health Center in need of Title X services, over 40% of those are at or below the federal poverty line,鈥� she said.
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Right now, the Rochester clinic is continuing to honor its sliding scale fee for services.
鈥淪hould that situation change, we would proactively work with our patients to notify them if they were going to be impacted in the future,鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淲e just want to provide that reassurance to patients that we are still here to provide care for them.鈥�
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, said that by withholding Title X funding, 鈥渢he Trump Administration is making it nearly impossible for women to access basic health care.鈥�
鈥淐ancers will go undetected, infections will be left untreated for longer, and many women will lose birth control,鈥� said Smith, who formerly was the vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. 鈥淭his is Republicans鈥� attempt to squeeze Planned Parenthood鈥檚 budget so tightly it can鈥檛 function any longer. Trump and Musk think they know better than American women, and that they deserve to make health care decisions for people whose stories they will never know.鈥�
The Trust Project
