Despite Legal Protections, Many Physical Clinics Are Closing Across the U.S.

Even in states where abortion remains legal, the landscape of reproductive healthcare is changing dramatically as numerous brick-and-mortar clinics are shutting down. Recent reports highlight that at least 17 clinics closed last year, with another 17 closures occurring in the first five months of 2025 alone. These closures are happening in both states that serve as abortion destinations, such as Illinois, and those with enshrined reproductive rights like Michigan. The suppression of physical clinics is driven more by financial and operational hurdles than by legal bans. Many clinics face rising costs, limited reimbursements, and increasing demands for telehealth services, which are altering traditional healthcare delivery models.

Notably, Planned Parenthood of Michigan is shuttering four clinics, including the only facility in the largely rural Upper Peninsula. This leaves around 1,100 patients annually who relied on these clinics for various healthcare needs—including cancer screenings and contraceptive services—with the next closest clinic now a five-hour drive away. This pattern of clinic closures is not unique to Michigan. Other states such as Illinois and New York have also shut clinics citing financial shortfalls, even as abortion laws remain supportive.

Experts suggest that these closures indicate that financial strain and operational difficulties pose a greater threat to reproductive health access than the imminent risk of legislative bans. The costs of providing care have escalated, and clinics are also grappling with the increasing prominence of telehealth options. Although telehealth expands access—particularly for rural populations—it cannot fully replace in-person visits, which remain essential, especially in low-resource and internet-limited areas.

Furthermore, many clinics are struggling with decreased patient volume due to financial barriers, with a rising number of individuals delaying care because they cannot afford it. Medicaid in Michigan, for example, does not cover abortion, forcing many to pay out-of-pocket or seek aid from struggling abortion funds. Funding cuts, like those previously enacted under the Trump administration, threaten to further diminish clinic operations, especially for the smallest facilities that are most difficult to sustain.

The ongoing closures and funding challenges are affecting healthcare access dramatically. Patients rely on clinics to support low-income and rural populations, but the current economic and political landscape is eroding the safety net. While telehealth services are expanding, gaps remain, especially in remote and underserved regions where internet access is limited, making it impossible for some to receive crucial reproductive healthcare.

In response, organizations are attempting to adapt by expanding virtual services and advocating for better funding. However, the current trend underscores a concerning shift: despite legal protections, the viability of physical clinics is under significant threat, which could result in longer travel distances, reduced access to essential care, and worsening health disparities for vulnerable populations.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-abortion-legal-brick-mortar-clinics.html