Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Expands Health Center Availability and Offerings, Consolidates Locations to Improve Patient Services

St. Louis — Planned Parenthood Great Rivers (PPGR), the leading provider in sexual and reproductive health care for the St. Louis and Missouri Ozarks regions for more than 90 years, announces service changes to continue to improve patient experience, including increased hours and service availability at two health centers, enhanced telehealth services, and consolidation of three health centers.

Statement from Richard Muniz, interim President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers

“At Planned Parenthood, patients are central to our mission, and centering their needs drives all our decisions. That is why, today, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers is announcing necessary service changes to adapt to our patients’ ever-changing needs. The changes we’re making will ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of our patients by streamlining operations and enhancing our health delivery options. Our patients can rest assured that the quality, compassionate care they know and rely on will not only continue to be available but also that we are continuously adapting to provide a better patient experience. 

“These changes also ensure long-term sustainability in the face of repeated attacks from politicians on sexual and reproductive health care — including seven consecutive years of trying to deny reimbursement for the lifesaving services we provide to Missourians who use Medicaid. Our commitment has never wavered; Planned Parenthood Great Rivers continues to show up and provide care for the patients on Medicaid who need it.

”We are incredibly grateful for the hardworking staff who are critical to ensuring we’re providing quality and expert reproductive health care. Recognizing that the trusted care PPGR provides is only possible because of our outstanding staff, all health center staff are able to stay with the organization. 

“Over the last 90 years, our patients have been our top priority, and these changes will better prepare us to be able to ensure that continues for the next 90 years. We’ll keep providing health care to our patients — no matter what.”

Beginning November 1, 2024, patients visiting PPGR’s West County and St. Peters health centers will be able to access services through the Title X family planning program. This expansion to these locations will allow hundreds of Missourians in need to access essential family planning services, including birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, STI services, and more. 

PPGR is expanding appointment availability to improve patient access. The St. Peters health center will soon be open five days a week, including one Saturday per month. The Central West End health center will significantly increase appointment openings for STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, wellness exams, and more. PPGR is also bolstering telehealth access, allowing patients to more easily communicate directly with their provider, schedule appointments, and review their records, all via their phone or computer from the comfort of home.

On November 1, PPGR will also close its health centers in North St. Louis County and on South Grand in St. Louis City. Patients visiting these health centers can continue receiving services at  other PPGR locations. On January 1, 2025, PPGR will close its health center in Joplin. To ensure these new changes have minimal impact on patients, PPGR will continue to provide transportation and logistics support for patients who need it, including referrals to other nearby providers, in addition to expanded telehealth options.