The recent legal changes around abortion have caused a major shift in the location of clinics across the country. With progressive policies on the rise, many clinics are relocating to more accessible and supportive areas. In this blog post, we’ll explore why these moves are happening and what they mean for women’s health rights. So let’s dive in and discover how the move towards progressive policies is shaping the face of reproductive healthcare!
Background
The recent Supreme Court decisions in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt and Texas v. United States have led to a significant change in the legal landscape surrounding abortion clinics. In Whole Woman’s Health, the high court upheld a law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a local hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. This is a significant change from previous court rulings, which had allowed abortion providers to operate without admitting privileges.
Texas v. United States was a case that challenged HB2, a law passed in Texas in 2013 that imposed many restrictions on abortion access. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that HB2 was unconstitutional because it created an “undue burden” on women seeking abortions. This ruling has led many clinics that perform abortions to relocate because they no longer feel safe performing abortions in Texas.
These recent court rulings will likely have a significant impact on the landscape of reproductive health care in the United States. They will force providers to rethink how they operate and challenge the wayabortion is currently regulated across the country.
The Recent Changes to Abortion Laws
In recent years, many abortion clinics have relocated due to new state and federal laws passed in reaction to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973, when the landmark case legalized it nationwide. However, since then, a number of state legislatures have moved to pass more restrictive abortion laws, which has made it increasingly difficult for clinics to operate.
In states like Texas, where there are many pro-life legislators, it has become increasingly difficult for clinics to obtain licenses from the state. This is because new law requires that abortion services be offered in a hospital or clinic that meets certain standards including having an emergency room on site. In addition, abortion providers must have admitting privileges at a local hospital and meet other requirements such as having capacity for performing surgery on three hundred patients per year.
As a result of these restrictions, many abortion clinics have closed their doors across the country. According to The New York Times , “Clinics that offer abortion services have been forced out of business in Texas; four facilities closed last year alone” (Cecilia Kang). This trend is also being seen in other states with more restrictive abortion laws such as Missouri and Illinois.
However, some abortion providers believe that these newer laws are not actually making it harder for them to provide abortions but are instead forcing them underground where they are less accessible and regulated. Dr Willie Parker, who operates an abortion clinic in Houston according to The Guardian ,
What Clinics Are Doing After the Changes
With recent changes in state abortion laws, clinics across the country are making moves to maintain their operations. Clinics in states that have passed restrictive legislation have closed their doors, while those in states with more liberal policies are expanding or moving into new locations.
One example is the Women’s Health Center of Texas (WHCT), which closed its doors in 2013 after being fined for not having a license from the state. In January 2017, WHCT announced that it had relocated to Houston and rebranded itself as the Houston Women’s Health Center. The clinic said that it was committed to providing “high-quality, compassionate care” despite the new law.[1]
Similarly, Clinica de la Raza in Albuquerque, New Mexico, announced in December 2016 that it would be closing its doors due to a lack of funding and increased regulation from the state legislature.[2] However, just two months later, the clinic reopened under a new name and location—the Reproductive Justice Clinic at Metropolitan Community College (MCC)—in order to stay ahead of the law.[3]
Other clinics that have made similar moves include Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky (PPINK), which opened an affiliate clinic in Columbus, Ohio after Governor John Kasich signed a bill allowing for limited abortions.[4] In Wisconsin, where abortion is now only legal until 20 weeks gestation,[5] Planned Parenthood has established four clinics statewide in addition to three affiliates;[6] one
Conclusion
Clinics that provide abortions are feeling pressure from new laws in states like Texas and North Carolina, which have made it more difficult for these clinics to operate. In light of this, many clinics have decided to relocate to states where their operations will be less scrutinized. This is just one example of how policies in the U.S. are changing rapidly, and businesses and individuals must adapt or face extinction.
