Spotlight on Reproductive Rights: Femcare to Close, Transition Services to Planned Parenthood

ASHEVILLE - Recognizing the political challenges in today’s environment, Femcare has been in conversation with Planned Parenthood for several months, according to Lorraine Cummings, M.D., owner of Femcare, in a public statement on March 18.

Both parties want to ensure that women in Western North Carolina have strong, long-term access to full GYN health options, including abortion.

With that mutual goal in mind, in the coming year Femcare will shift its abortion services to Planned Parenthood.  During the time of transition Femcare will continue to provide abortion services, but will not see new gynecology patients.

Femcare has offered comprehensive reproductive health services in the region since 1985.  Similarly, Planned Parenthood has played a role in meeting women’s health care needs in Western NC and their patient base is rapidly increasing, providing over 3,000 medical visits during the past fiscal year.

• News Story about McCrory administration's targeting of Femcare from March 13 by Carolina Public Press, reprinted from North Carolina Health News:   http://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2014/03/13/documents-disclose-political-pr-pressure-surrounding-asheville-abortion-clinics-suspension/

• Current ACLU News about Reproductive Rights in North Carolina:  https://www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/index.php/Reproductive-Rights/Categories/Listings/reproductive-rights.html