Planned Parenthood to offer ‘just in case’ abortion pills at some US clinics

Patients in Washington and Hawaii will be able to obtain medication before pregnancy in expansion of early access Planned Parenthood clinics in Washington and Hawaii will now offer “just in case” abortion medication, bringing wider attention to the option of receiving the pills in advance of pregnancy amid growing challenges to access. Leaders at the organization hope their name recognition will help community members understand their options for accessing care despite federal, state and personal challenges to getting abortion care. “It’s more than just an opportunity. It really is an obligation,” said Colleen McNicholas, chief of clinical transformation and medical affairs for Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky. “We need to be doing everything we can at this moment, and that means more than just holding the line – it means finding ways to expand access.” The announcement means abortion medication in advance has “gotten a lot of visibility,” said Amy Merrill, co-founder of Plan C, an organization that offers information about medication abortion, including on pills in advance. “It makes it more known, it makes it more norm