Oregon's two Planned Parenthood announce changes to protect patient access

PORTLAND/EUGENE, Ore. - Changes are underway at Oregon's two Planned Parenthood provider organizations in an effort to protect access to care statewide.

Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon will end operations, and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette will expand to serve the entire state. According to the organizations, patients at both can continue to access care as they always have at health centers and through telehealth throughout this transition.

On Feb. 14, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette will expand to become Planned Parenthood of Oregon and Southwest Washington. The new organization will operate 12 existing health centers and telehealth under a single governance and care model.

The same locations and care that patients across Oregon and Southwest Washington know and depend on will carry forward unchanged, according to the organizations. Services include birth control, cancer screenings, STI treatment, menopause care and abortion care.

Planned Parenthood of Oregon and Southwest Washington will continue to provide care for more than 66,000 patients through upwards of 100,000 visits in the region each year.

"Over the past 60 years, PPSO has created deep and trusting community relationships, expanded access to essential reproductive care, and strengthened Planned Parenthood's presence across the region," said Amy Handler, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. "That history and impact remain an important part of Planned Parenthood's story in Southwestern Oregon."

Handler said the organization is navigating real pressures from rising costs and low reimbursement rates, like other rural and nonprofit providers.

"This transition will address that reality head-on and preserve access to high-quality care in our region for the future," she said.

The decision comes after years of discussion between the two organizations on how to best serve patients. According to the organizations, rising costs, low Medicaid reimbursement rates and the federal government's increasing hostility toward Planned Parenthood and reproductive health care create real challenges that could negatively impact care available to patients without action.

"We are building a powerful regional provider in PPOSW with the scale, infrastructure and experience to continue providing the excellent care that Planned Parenthood patients need and deserve," said Dr. Sara Kennedy, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette.

She said moving to one statewide organization that serves the entire region enables them to operate more efficiently and strengthens their ability to protect access to care.

"We could not be more excited about what we are building at this historic moment for Planned Parenthood and its patients in Oregon and Southwest Washington," Kennedy said.

Patients do not need to take any action, according to the organizations. Medical records, appointments, insurance coverage and billing relationships will continue without interruption. Through Feb. 13, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette will operate independently, and care will continue as usual.

When launched on Feb. 14, Planned Parenthood of Oregon and Southwest Washington will serve patients at 12 health centers in Beaverton, Bend, Eugene, Medford, Milwaukie, Ontario, Portland, Salem and Vancouver, Wash. The organization will also serve patients wherever they are in the state via telehealth.

Oregon's two Planned Parenthood announce changes to protect patient access

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