Health centers can't absorb Planned Parenthood patients, expert says

Advocates for defunding Planned Parenthood suggest community health centers can fill the gap left by Planned Parenthood. Whether that would work is up for debate, but in Minnesota, it likely isn't, said Jonathan Watson, associate director and director of public policy at the Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers.

Health centers already are concerned about adequate funding and are not looking to take any funding from Planned Parenthood, he said.

"It doesn't solve many of our problems. We're just interested in things that promote increased access to care," Watson said.

Health centers offer care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. As a result, about 29 percent of patients are uninsured and another 56 percent have Medicaid or Medicare.

Read more: http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2017/04/08/health-centers-cant-absorb-planned-parenthood-patients-expert-says/99842658/