Two Years Ago There Were 44 Abortion Clinics in Texas, Now Just Eight Remain

State   |   Jill Stanek   |   Jul 23, 2014   |   12:50PM   |   Austin, TX

On September 1 a new pro-life law will take effect in Texas that requires abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers, abortionists to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of the clinic, and the abortion pill RU-486 to be dispensed per FDA protocol.

And on that day Planned Parenthood will seize control of the Texas abortion market, since it will at that point own six* of the eight remaining abortion clinics.

texas17Only two years ago there were 44 abortion clinics in Texas. The new law is purging smaller and subpar abortion facilities, including some of Planned Parenthood’s own.

But no surprise, the United States’ largest abortion business is seizing this opportunity to re-expand and drive the remaining independent abortion clinics under, so as to capture the Lone Star State’s lucrative abortion trade. The abortion death toll there (77,592 in 2010) accounts for almost 8% of all abortions committed in the U.S. annually.

Ever the liar, Planned Parenthood purchased property for two new clinics in Dallas and San Antonio after it claimed the law would doom abortion access.

Planned Parenthood killing the competition

Moreover, Dallas and San Antonio already had established abortion ambulatory surgical centers that qualify to remain open under HB2 – they’re just not Planned Parenthood clinics.

Texas is a huge state, so there are several “unserved” locations Planned Parenthood could have picked to add new abortion clinics.

But Planned Parenthood chose instead to compete head to head with rivals, demonstrating it is cut-throat in more ways than one. Any Planned Parenthood exec such as CEO Cecile Richards who complains about declining “abortion access” in Texas is a hypocrite. They are purposefully making Planned Parenthood a contributing factor, demonstrating once again their concern is not about women but about money.

Doubling its abortion market share

In 2011, Planned Parenthood owned approximately 14 of the state’s 44 abortion clinics, or 32% of the market share, according to Emily Horne of Texas Right to Life. After the dust settles on September 1 Planned Parenthood will own as much as 75%* of the market share, more than doubling its cut of abortion profits in Texas.

Dallas Planned Parenthood abortion clinicOne additional bit of Planned Parenthood hypocrisy, as noted by Texas Right to Life:

Planned Parenthood has purchased an existing ASC [in Dallas, pictured right] and is making minor renovations in order to use it for abortion.

The news comes after Planned Parenthood officials insisted that the perceived burden of converting their facilities into ambulatory surgical centers would be too great and would force them to cease their operations. Melaney Linton of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast said last year, “You can’t just do a few renovations and convert a facility that is already existing.” And yet, converting a “facility that is already existing” is exactly what Planned Parenthood is doing….

__________

*The actual number of Planned Parenthood and independent abortion clinics that will be left standing in Texas on September 1 varies slightly by news story.

While RH Reality Check says Planned Parenthood will have six, Healthcare Daily says it may have seven, and Planned Parenthood’s own website says it has five. Meanwhile, several news sources, like Kaiser, claim the total number of Texas abortion clinics in September will be six.

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It is possible that one or more of the nonabortion clinics Planned Parenthood is “renovat[ing],” in Addison, Arlington, Cedar Hill, and Lewisville, is covertly being converted into an abortion clinic. Or Planned Parenthood is secretly prepping a brand new site as I type.

And, of course, Chicken Little abortion proponents may be lowballing the grand total for drama.

Current abortion clinic count

At any rate, for those trying to keep track, here is the current tally of Texas abortion clinics that will remain open on September 1. The count is in flux but at present is eight total, with Planned Parenthood owning five. Thanks to Karen at the Catholic Pro-life Committee and Rachel and Emily at Texas Right to Life for help with the compilation:

Austin

  • Planned Parenthood on East Ben White Blvd.

Dallas

  • Planned Parenthood on West Virginia Dr. – set to open in a few weeks (Planned Parenthood on Greenville Ave. will have to stop committing abortions on September 1)
  • Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center also on Greenville Ave.

Fort Worth

  • Planned Parenthood on John Ryan Dr.

Houston

  • Planned Parenthood on Gulf Freeway
  • Texas Ambulatory Surgical Center on North Shepherd

San Antonio

    • Planned Parenthood at as yet unknown secret location, opening a new $5 million clinic by September 1 (Planned Parenthood on Babcock Rd. will have to stop committing abortions on September 1)
    • Whole Woman’s Health of San Antonio on East Southcross

LifeNews.com Note: Jill Stanek fought to stop “live birth abortions” after witnessing one as an RN at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. That led to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act legislation, signed by President Bush, that would ensure that proper medical care be given to unborn children who survive botched abortion attempts.