Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Faces Financial Crisis, Urges State and Donor Support

(Portland, MAINE; Concord, NEW HAMPSHIRE; Colchester, VT) – Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE), the region's largest provider of family planning services, needs significant financial support to continue offering its lifesaving health care services across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, said officials from the organization today.

At a virtual press conference on Thursday at 10 am ET, PPNNE’s interim CEO Nicole Clegg and Vice Presidents of Public Affairs Lisa Margulies (Maine), Kayla Montgomery (New Hampshire) and Jessica Barquist (Vermont) detailed the bleak picture; the organization is facing a projected financial deficit of $8.6 million over the next three years and could be forced to change how and where it offers services.

The organization’s spokespeople cited a significantly broken health care system and endless political attacks as the main drivers. They went on to name Covid-19, inflation, insufficient reimbursement rates, and an increased demand for their free and discounted care as factors that have worsened the financial situation.

On this morning’s press call, Nicole Clegg, Interim CEO, PPNNE made the consequences of these political attacks for patients' crystal clear:

“PPNNE is a non-profit health care organization with a mission to provide free and discounted services to all who need it. We don’t turn people away. But without us, the most vulnerable people in our communities could face catastrophic health outcomes, including unplanned pregnancies and worsening pregnancy outcomes, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and increased rates of cervical and breast cancers.

The patients who stand to lose the most include those who: have low incomes, people of color, young people, people without a dedicated primary care physician, uninsured or underinsured people, those living in rural or medically underserved communities, and women, LGBTQ+ people, and people from out of state seeking essential medical care from where abortion or gender-affirming care is banned.

Put simply, we are a safety net for patients who struggle the most, providing high-quality, affordable, and often free health care services.

Today we called on state leaders to not only address the health care system failures that we and so many other providers are facing, but to also adequately fund PPNNE so that we can continue to provide affordable family planning and abortion services – now and into the future.”

By the numbers

• PPNNE served more than 32,000 patients, totaling more than 47,000 visits, in the past fiscal year, 56% of whom had low incomes. In the last three years, PPNNE has provided $14 million worth of free and discounted health care.
  • ME: 8,388 patients; 11,355 visits; 58% low income
  • NH: 11,223 patients; 15,717 visits; 58% low income
  • VT: 13,354 patients; 19,940 visits; 54% low income
• PPNNE has 15 health centers across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, as well as a telehealth program:
  • ME: 4 health centers in Biddeford, Portland, Sanford, and Topsham
  • NH: 4 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, and Manchester.
  • VT: 7 health centers in Barre, Brattleboro, Burlington, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction, and Williston.
• Since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, PPNNE has served 7,800 abortion patients from 32 states plus D.C.
• Every dollar invested in family planning services results in an estimated savings of $4.83, as it provides patients with the services to prevent or delay pregnancy, protect against reproductive cancers, and reduces sexually transmitted infections (Publicly Supported Family Planning Services in the United States: Likely Need, Availability and Impact, 2016 | Guttmacher Institute)  

###

About Planned Parenthood of Northern New England: PPNNE is the largest provider of sexual and reproductive health care across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In FY24, PPNNE provided care to more than 32,000 patients for more than 47,000 visits. There are 15 health centers across the region.