COVID-19 Update from Missouri's Planned Parenthood Affiliates
A note from Planned Parenthood health centers:
Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri are closely monitoring the spread of the coronavirus 2019 disease, or COVID-19. The health and safety of Planned Parenthood patients, staff, and community is the top priority. All appropriate precautionary measures are being taken at both health centers and administrative offices.
PPGP and PPSLRSWMO are dedicated and committed to our mission of providing the highest quality sexual and reproductive health care in our communities. Planned Parenthood’s doors are open, with appropriate screening precautions in place to continue seeing patients. We will continue to update our websites — ppgreatplains.org and ppslr.org — as things change, and we appreciate your flexibility and patience.
To locate the health center closest to you, visit plannedparenthood.org/health-center or call 1.800.230.PLAN to schedule an appointment.
MoLeg Updates
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COVID-19 in the Capitol
The Missouri Legislature is adjourned for their regularly scheduled week of spring break. Rep. Joe Runions (D-Grandview) is the only member of the Legislature who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a precaution, the Capitol has been shut down through Monday, April 6. Representative Runions has gotten “over the hump” but remains hospitalized while he recovers. He spoke with Gov. Parson and urged him to do all he can to get hospitals and health care workers the supplies they need: “The most important thing to me right now is for the doctors, nurses and hospitals in our state to get all of the support and supplies they need as they work to treat this illness.”
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In the midst of a pandemic, House Budget Committee voted to block thousands of Missourians from their chosen health provider
Once again, extremist politicians are trying to use the budget to take away critical preventive health funding for patients with low incomes. Before adjourning last week, the House Budget Committee passed its version of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year; the next step is a vote by the entire House of Representatives. In its current version, the budget discriminates against patients who rely on publicly funded health programs. These politicians are trying to block patients from accessing birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment at any health center that provides or refers for abortion — and Planned Parenthood is their biggest target.
This is unacceptable, and it is even more outrageous coming just days after Gov. Parson declared a public health emergency because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Planned Parenthood Advocates will be fighting back and holding these politicians accountable — we’ll be in your inbox soon with ways you can take action.
Meet Your New Mid-Missouri Organizer!
Hello, my name is Lexi Brown and I am the new Mid-Missouri grassroots organizer with Planned Parenthood Great Plains. I am eager to get started fighting the good fight for Planned Parenthood!
I have a political background, with experience on electoral campaigns and a degree in political science from Truman State University. I have always been passionate about Planned Parenthood, even interning with Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri during the summer of 2017. I am from St. Louis, and just moved to Mid-Missouri to begin my work at PPGP’s Columbia health center.
Please reach out if you want to get involved and talk about how to advance our cause — I look forward to connecting with Planned Parenthood supporters in the community!
Upcoming Events
As we navigate this new reality and work to #FlattenTheCurve, we are trying creative ways to continue fighting for Missourians’ reproductive freedom. Check ppmissouri.org/calendar for upcoming events you can join remotely!
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