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Planned Parenthood of Northern New England warns of $8.6 million shortfall, urges state support
Summary
Jessica Barquist of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England told the House Health Care Committee the organization faces an $8.6 million funding gap over three years, has already closed clinics in 2022 and is seeking state policy and funding options to keep health centers open across Vermont.
Jessica Barquist, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, told the Vermont House Committee on Health Care on Jan. 15, 2025, that her organization faces “a funding gap of more than $8,600,000 over the next 3 years.”
Barquist said Planned Parenthood operates seven Vermont health centers in Burlington, Williston, St. Johnsbury, Barre, White River Junction, Rutland and Brattleboro and serves the state virtually through telehealth. She told lawmakers that the organization provided about $1,300,000 in free and discounted care to Vermont communities in the last fiscal year, up from $802,000 the prior year.
Barquist described Planned Parenthood as a front-line provider for time-sensitive reproductive and sexual health services, including wellness exams, birth control, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings and abortion care; she said the clinics also provide counseling and public-health education in schools and run a Department of Health–funded program to distribute free condoms in middle and high schools.
Barquist described a post-election rise in demand for long-acting reversible contraception and other services and said that LARC appointment bookings “more than doubled, from an average of 51 per week pre-election to 105.” She said patients have sought appointments out of fear their access to care could be reduced under federal political changes.
Barquist told the committee the organization seeks state assistance to offset likely federal funding reductions — including exploring a matching strategy in which a modest state investment draws a 9:1 federal match under the federal family planning program. She noted that Planned Parenthood did not receive state funding at the time of testimony and said the group has discussed a special fund with the treasurer’s office.
Barquist recounted clinic closures in 2022 in Bennington, Hyde Park, Middlebury and St. Albans following earlier financial strain and said community members repeatedly urged restoration of services.
Why it matters: Planned Parenthood provides primary reproductive and time-sensitive care — services that advocates and patients say are difficult to replace when centers close. Barquist asked lawmakers to consider Medicaid reimbursement enhancements, a state match for family-planning funding and other measures to preserve access to reproductive health services across Vermont.
