Two Years Without Roe: Abortion Bans Forcing Patients to Travel for Care

Planned Parenthood North Central States is proud to provide abortion care in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska 

St. Paul, MN— On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court made history by overturning a long held right for the first time in American history. Two years later, the heartbreaking consequences of denying pregnant people access to abortion care, and the ripple effects on the health care system, are clear. Overturning Roe has resulted in a patchwork quilt of laws, abortion bans, and restrictions, that have harmed patients and created a manufactured state of confusion. 

 "The sexual and reproductive health care landscape has only gotten worse since Roe was overturned,” said Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “Patients are sometimes forced to travel large distances to access care, and that’s if they can afford it. The ripple effects of abortion bans are becoming clear with increasing rates of maternal mortality, STI rates, and health care deserts in states with abortion bans. We say abortion is health care because we see it every day, and when you ban one form on health care, you compromise the whole health care landscape.” 

Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) has seen a 10% increase in abortion in Minnesota since Roe was overturned, and an 100% increase in patients traveling from out of state for care. Since Roe was overturned, PPNCS patient navigators have helped over 4,000 patients get to their appointments. Most of these patients are from states where abortion is legal. An estimated 80% of these patients would not have been able to access care without this program's support.   

 “Providing high quality, safe abortion care looks the same,” said Dr. Sarah Traxler, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood North Central States. “What’s changed is the hoops patients have to jump through to get essential health care. What’s changed is having to make contingency plans because politicians insist on making personal, private medical decisions. What's changed is the volume of people traveling large distances because they can’t get care in their own communities.”  

Planned Parenthood is committed to building health care that meets the needs of the communities that face the most significant barriers, like Black, Indigenous, low-income, and rural communities. Health care access is not the same for everyone, and while the fall of Roe has made it more transparent, the system has been unfair for quite some time. 

 “We know there is a better way to do health care,” said Richardson. “We’re dedicated to creating a world with health equity at the center, where everyone has access to the care that is best for them in their own communities.”  

Status of Abortion in Minnesota 

The right to abortion care is protected in Minnesota under both a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in Doe v. Gomez and a state statute, the Protect Reproductive Options Act. Since Roe was overturned, access to abortion care has expanded in Minnesota through the Doe v. Minnesota decision ruling numerous abortion restrictions as unconstitutional, and the Minnesota legislature removing most of those barriers from the books.  

Status of Abortion in Iowa 

A dangerous abortion ban was passed in an unprecedented one-day special session by the Iowa Legislature in July 2023. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood North Central States, Emma Goldman Clinic and ACLU of Iowa filed an immediate challenge and were granted a temporary injunction to block the harmful abortion ban. The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case in April 2024, with a ruling expected before the end of the Court’s Spring term in June 2024. If allowed to stand, the law will go into effect banning abortions around six weeks of pregnancy, before many even know they are pregnant.  

 Status of Abortion in Nebraska  

Abortion in Nebraska is banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy under LB 574 which was passed in 2023. PPNCS filed a lawsuit against LB 574, saying the Nebraska Legislature violated the state constitution’s “single subject rule” when they tacked the abortion ban onto another bill as a last-ditch effort to pass both measures. The Nebraska Constitution clearly states, “no bill shall contain more than one subject.”  

Status of Abortion in North Dakota 

In 2023, the North Dakota legislature passed SB 2150, a near total abortion ban. SB 2150 bans all abortions in North Dakota, except in very narrow circumstances where a pregnant person’s life is at risk. The bill also provides an exception for survivors of rape or incest, but only until six weeks of pregnancy, before most people even know they are pregnant.  

 Status of Abortion in South Dakota   

Abortion is banned in South Dakota from a trigger law that immediately took effect when Roe was overturned. Planned Parenthood North Central States continues to provide family planning and other sexual and reproductive health care services in South Dakota. 

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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high quality care, education, and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to more than 93,000 people and health education to more than 58,000 people in our region.