Ahead of AG rule, Planned Parenthood expands care capacity for trans patients

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
Updated ·2 min read
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Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri will be offering additional appointments for patients seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy in the days leading up to Attorney General Andrew Bailey's emergency rule taking effect on April 27.

The official language of Bailey's rule restricts gender-affirming care for minors and adults. PPSLR's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colleen McNicholas called the rule "transphobic, extreme ideology." According to a PPSLR press release, the organization already sees 1,000 patients for gender-affirming care.

"To the transgender and non-binary patients seeking care: our doors remain open," McNicholas said. "Despite the Attorney General’s continued attacks on gender-affirming care, Planned Parenthood will always do all we can to ensure our patients can get the care they need.”

Who are these appointments for?

These appointments are for new patients who are seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy ahead of April 27.

Under the emergency rule, a person cannot start gender-affirming care until they have completed a number of requirements, including 18 months of psychological or psychiatric assessments and that any existing mental health issues have been treated and resolved.

Which Planned Parenthoods are offering additional appointments?

Planned Parenthood will be offering additional appointments at all locations in the PPSLR area. A list of those health centers is available here. Patients can schedule their appointments online or by phone.

What about pop-up clinics?

The organization planned a trio of pop-up clinics for Monday in St. Louis, Springfield and Fairview Heights, Illinois. According to PPSLR spokesperson Julie Lynn, the pop-up clinics filled up quickly. Lynn said that St. Louis's walk-in clinic began at 8 a.m. and was full by 10 a.m.

While there are no more pop-up clinics planned, lots of additional appointments have been added to the schedule for all Planned Parenthood locations in the St. Louis region and southwest Missouri, Lynn said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Planned Parenthood works to see more trans people ahead of April 27