Planned Parenthood North Central States says states including Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska stand ready to accept patients seeking abortions in the wake of Friday's final decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case that effectively overturfns abortion access protections previously established by Roe v. Wade in the 1970s.
States covered by Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, along with North and South Dakota.
"Today is an absolutely horrible, devestating day. I don't think there are words to describe what a shattering moment this for women in our country," said Sarah Stoesz, PPNCS president and CEO. "The Supreme Court has taken an absolute knife to Roe and our protections that so many of us, including myself, have used to organize and plan our lives for the last 50 years. Those protections have no evaporated."
Earlier this week, PPNCS anticipated seeing a 10 to 25 percent increase in patients seeking abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in Minnesota. With Roe v. Wade officially overturned by the Supreme Court, abortions are now banned in South Dakota due to their trigger law and in Wisconsin due to their 1849 ban.
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North Dakota passed a trigger law in 2007 that would 2007 would ban abortion in the state within 30 days if the Supreme Court ever changed direction on the controversial procedure.
"Our doors remain open and we intend to be the good neighbor that we have always been to others in surrounding states," Stoetz added. "We will be welcoming here in Minnesota."
Dr. Sarah Traxler, PPNCS Chief Medical Officer, said Planned Parenthood had been preparing for Friday's decision.
"We've been working on how we would be able to increase access to abortion in states that continue to have access," Dr. Traxler said. "We believe we'll have an influx of patients in Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota."
With that expected influx, Dr. Traxler said they have launched a direct to consumer mifepristone in Minnesota for Minnesota residents. They've also increased capacity at telemedicine abortion sites and continue to recruit and onboard physicians in states where abortion remains legal.
"I have received multiple reach outs from multiple doctors from around the country who are willing come and help provide abortion care if we need them."
Planned Parenthood warned about the serious health concerns that would arise with an abortion ban in several states, including for individuals of color and LQBTQ+ community.
"People of color often already struggle to access healthcare. The healthcare they have is already inequitable and the quality is often inequitable," Dr. Traxler said. "We imagine that folks who are living in communities that are struggling or marginalized will have even more difficulty accessing abortions."
Some health experts warn that the increased demand in abortions in Minnesota could make it more difficult for Minnesotans to access an abortion as well.