JUNEAU EMPIRE – Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Juneau has closed due to what the organization calls a need to consolidate resources in the region to ensure ongoing operations, which comes as the national nonprofit organization is in the crosshairs of the incoming Trump administration and Republican-led Congress.
The Juneau location, amidst a cluster of healthcare entities near Bartlett Regional Hospital, was already temporarily closed for building repairs, according to an email sent to patients. But it notes “unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to keep the health center permanently closed.”
“This decision was not made lightly and reflects a careful evaluation of patient needs, access to care in Alaska, and the challenges facing sexual and reproductive health care today,” the message states.
“Consolidating resources will allow us to sustain Planned Parenthood’s mission and protect care access across the region for years to come.”
Rising healthcare costs and “unrelenting attacks on our organization” were factors involved in the closure of the Juneau location, said Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky, in a prepared statement.
“Like providers throughout the country, we are facing a volatile health care environment with rapidly growing costs to provide care. On top of these challenges, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawai’i [sic], Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky faces unrelenting attacks on our organization and the right to provide basic health care like abortion and gender-affirming care [sic],” she said.
“The difficult decisions we’re making are about ensuring that we can continue to provide essential services across our six states. Our mission remains clear: to provide compassionate, accessible care for all. With the continued support of our community, we will overcome today’s challenges so that Planned Parenthood is here for generations to come” …
