Abortion clinic closures could push urgent cares to fill gaps

Many abortion clinics have closed and some urgent care centers, including Marquette Medical in Michigan, have begun offering medication abortion to replace lost in-person services.

Many abortion clinics have closed in recent years, creating gaps in local access to in-person care. In Marquette, Michigan, the local Planned Parenthood closed and Marquette Medical Urgent Care began offering medication abortion last summer to serve patients who wanted an office visit. Rural communities face long travel distances and reduced pregnancy services as some hospitals cut labor and delivery units. Telehealth and mail-order medication have grown as in-person options have declined. Reported facts: - At least 38 abortion clinics shut down last year in states where abortion remains legal, according to I Need an A data. - Marquette Medical Urgent Care added medication abortion after the Planned Parenthood closure and now provides multiple cases per week, with some patients traveling long distances for in-person care. - The urgent care faced higher initial malpractice quotes and other insurance and funding hurdles; a local donor and a community nonprofit helped cover an ultrasound and patient costs. - Telehealth abortions increased substantially, reported to rise from about 5% to 25% of abortions by the end of 2024, and local telehealth appointments rose after the Marquette clinic closed. - Some health systems have indicated plans to offer medication abortion at their urgent cares, while providers note state laws and federal prescriber requirements add regulatory complexity. Summary: Closures of brick-and-mortar clinics have prompted some communities to shift services into urgent care settings to preserve in-person options, but providers report financial, regulatory and logistical challenges in doing so. A few larger health systems have said they plan to expand medication abortion at urgent cares, while broader adoption and longer-term effects remain undetermined at this time.