Vermont Lawmakers Strengthen Commitment to Expanding Reproductive Care Despite Planned Parenthood Closures in Northeast Kingdom
- jonathan121797
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
MONTPELIER, VT — Planned Parenthood Northern New England (PPNNE) recently announced the closure of its last remaining health center in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, marking the latest in a series of closures that began in 2022. The St. Johnsbury center will cease operations June 3, 2025, citing operational challenges including devastating flooding and persistently low reimbursement rates for services. The shuttering of the St. Johnsbury center follows the closures of health centers in Bennington, Hyde Park, Middlebury, Newport, and St. Albans.
In light of ongoing federal attacks, Vermont continues to lead the way in reproductive healthcare access — including abortion — especially for those who need a lifeline from deep red states. Vermont Democrats have introduced new legislation to further protect reproductive rights:
S.28 strengthens Vermont’s existing Shield Law to protect abortion telemedicine providers’ names and addresses from appearing on out-of-state patients’ pill bottles and online records.
S.28 will enhance protections for telemedicine providers based in Vermont, in an age where anti-abortion states are surveilling and suing doctors for providing abortions.
S.28 was passed out of the House on Friday, April 18. It is now in the Senate for final approval.
“A loss of a Planned Parenthood clinic is a loss of rural health care for those who need it most. We, as Democrats, remain committed to protecting Vermonters’ access to reproductive and sexual health care in all corners of our state, especially amidst a federal administration that is hostile towards reproductive freedoms,” said Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale.
Senator Ginny Lyons, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare added, “Planned Parenthood has been a reliable frontline primary and reproductive health care provider for rural Vermonters. It is the Senate Health and Welfare committee’s paramount priority to pass legislation that lowers health care costs for Vermonters and strengthens health care access for rural Vermont.”
"Access to reproductive health care should not depend on your zip code. The closure of this Planned Parenthood facility is a painful reminder of the challenges rural Vermonters face in getting the care they need and deserve,” said Representative Alyssa Black, Chair of the House Committee on Healthcare. “We remain deeply committed to protecting reproductive liberty and ensuring that every Vermonter — no matter where they live — can access high-quality, compassionate health care.”
“For too many rural Vermonters, a clinic closing means a 90-minute drive, unpaid time off work, or going without care altogether. These aren't abstract consequences — they are real, immediate, and life-altering,” said Vermont Democratic Party Executive Director May Hanlon. “The loss of care in our communities is a direct result of federal neglect — driven by Trump-era Republican attacks on reproductive health. Systematic defunding and a chronic failure to invest in rural health infrastructure have forced everyday Vermonters to shoulder the burden just to access basic care. Health care access is the foundation for economic security, family stability, and basic human dignity. Without it, the health of entire communities begins to erode.”
Vermont Democrats are committed to protecting and expanding access to reproductive and primary health care — no matter your income, no matter your zip code. As Washington turns its back on rural communities, we’re stepping up with bold policy, strategic investment, and an unwavering belief that health care is a human right. We call on our colleagues, partners, and all Vermonters to stand with us in defending access to care and building a future where every person — in every corner of this state — can get the care they need, close to home.
Asha Carroll
Assistant Treasurer
Vermont Democratic Party
(651) 808-0700
Erin Stoetzner
Senate Democratic Caucus Director
Vermont Democratic Party
Liam O’Sullivan
House Democratic Caucus Director
Vermont Democratic Party