The shifting geography of abortion: Missouri women looking to Illinois, Kansas for care

GRANITE CITY, ILL. -- Twenty-seven abortions were scheduled last Thursday at the Hope Clinic, and the license plates on cars parked in front of the low-rise building with bulletproof doors tell the story: Missouri. Missouri. Illinois. Illinois. Missouri.

The 45-year-old Granite City, Ill. clinic, located 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis, draws about half of its patients from Missouri. With the state’s new ban on abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy scheduled to take effect Aug. 28, and its lone provider — Planned Parenthood of St. Louis — fighting in court to keep its license, Hope Clinic is poised to play an even more significant role for women in the region.

In the last two weeks, the clinic has been inundated with calls. Patients, looking to schedule appointments, were confused. During an appointment, one asked if abortion was still legal in Missouri. (It’s legal in all 50 states, still.)

“There’s a lot of fear,” said Hannah Dismer, a counselor with the clinic. “Patients are scared.”

Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article231029883.html