From Our CEO
Planned Parenthood South Texas is here for good. Our doors are open, and we continue to provide the high-quality, non-judgmental care South Texans have trusted for decades. We have faced significant obstacles this year with the fall of Roe v Wade and the subsequent trigger of Texas’ outright abortion ban. Although we are disheartened, we are by no means defeated. We anticipated this moment and put structures in place to mitigate the business impact of these cruel bans.
It has never been more important to provide birth control, and demand for our family planning services remains high.
our Southeast and Marbach locations in San Antonio earlier this year, allowing us to provide free family planning services to patients with very low incomes. Importantly, Title X health center staff are also able to provide information to patients about abortion care. Additionally, we can provide minors birth control without parental consent, which is medically unnecessary but required by state law at health centers that do not receive Title X funding.
It has never been more important to provide birth control, and demand for our family planning services remains high. In 2021, we saw a 3% increase in the number of patients we served. That has continued into 2022, with our non-abortion health centers already seeing an increase of 4%. We are providing more long-acting reversible contraceptives (implants and intrauterine devices). In 2022, patients have already received contraception that provides a total of 379,232 weeks of protection from unintended pregnancy, compared to 314,966 weeks in 2021— an increase of 20.4%.
Thanks to your unwavering support and strategic investments of time and capital, we are investing in the future of our patients. Our first-ever ground up new build of a health center is well under way. Known as “New Marbach,” this facility is strategically located based on population growth and will allow us to care for twice as many patients as our current Marbach facility, which served 3,530 patients in 2021. Every detail of this project is patient centered, including placing the parking lot at the back of the building to protect patients from the verbal abuse of protesters. We expect to welcome patients to the new facility in early 2023.
Due to the repeal of the Gag Rule, we are once again able to participate in Title X, the federal family planning program. We began receiving this funding at both of our Rio Grande Valley health centers and at
PPST continues to emphasize primary care service offerings such as testing and treatment for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, anxiety and depression. Patients frequently share how meaningful it is to receive care beyond the sexual and reproductive health care they have long trusted us to provide. Planned Parenthood is the only source of health care that many of our patients access, and though the majority of our patients receive free or low-cost care, the quality of that care is of the highest standard. We are the experts in sexual and reproductive health care. Wait times at our health centers is a fraction of what it is at most other health care facilities. We are fiercely committed to our patients, to their experience — and to efficiency.
As we take stock of the full impact of the abortion bans, anticipate fights
Renderings of new Marbach location.
Patient assistance by type, January-August 2022
on access to birth control, and watch the unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ+ communities, we are thinking deeply about our role in providing age-appropriate, medically accurate sexual and reproductive health education. This is crucial in Texas, where schools are not required to teach sex ed. If a school chooses to teach sex education, the curriculum must emphasize abstinence, and Texas has no standard regarding medically accurate sex education instruction. Our preventative health care services are more important than ever. So too is the need for South Texans, particularly young people, to be educated and empowered about their bodies. We are assessing how we, as experts, can best meet the community’s needs for education about sexual and reproductive health.
More and more patients are taking advantage of our telehealth services, which allow us to meet people where they are. These virtual visits increase access to care for people who have barriers to in-clinic visits, such as transportation or childcare challenges or conflicts with school and work. Patients who live far from our health centers can easily get care from home. We launched telehealth in August 2020 and had 308 telehealth visits that year. In 2021 it was 1,089. In 2022 we are on track for a 30% increase. Telehealth is quickly becoming an essential tool for keeping our community vibrant and healthy.
Our health center doors — both physical and virtual — remain open. The fight to restore access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, is ongoing. While we work collectively to restore access, PPST will continue to meet the needs of our patients and strategize how we can best meet the needs of our community. We look forward to partnering with you on these initiatives. Our patients deserve nothing less.
Laura Terrill President & CEO, Planned Parenthood South TexasTreasurer’s Report
Planned Parenthood South Texas continues to thrive in the face of adversity because of proactive management and long-term planning, talented and committed staff, thoughtful stewardship of resources – and you.
Our health care operations grew in 2021; in fact, we served more patients than we have in any year since 2012, when the Texas Legislature defunded Planned Parenthoods statewide. Patient volume increased for the third straight year, notwithstanding the loss of Medicaid in March and the steep drop in abortion care following the enactment of Senate Bill 8, Texas’ sixweek abortion ban on September 1st. Despite these challenges, Planned Parenthood South Texas increased telehealth services, offered free HPV vaccines at our Rio Grande Valley health centers and free emergency contraception at all of our clinics, added primary care services, and responded to the demand for genderaffirming hormone therapy. We invested in our committed, highly-trained staff by raising our minimum wage as part of our diversity, equity and inclusion work. To support our delivery of best quality, compassionate care, we hired both a Centralized Follow-Up Clinician to improve continuity of care and a Patient Advocate to help patients access abortion care after Texas implemented Senate Bill 8.
Planned Parenthood South Texas concluded 2021 on sound financial footing, with total assets of approximately $18M and total liabilities of approximately $2.8M. One key to our financial stability was our success in controlling expenses while optimizing revenues. For example, in order to address the decline in state funding for family planning services, Planned Parenthood South Texas built organizational capacity in revenue cycle management in order to maximize reimbursement from commercial insurance. As a result, commercial insurance reimbursements increased 28% in 2021 as compared to 2020, generating funds which we applied to underwrite costs for patients who do not have the means to pay for their health care.
Generous donor support in 2021 also significantly contributed to our strong financial position and our ability to deliver the health care that our patients
need. In response to the state government’s reprehensible attacks on reproductive rights, people in Texas and nationwide rose to the occasion with extraordinary philanthropy. Donations allowed us to help patients navigate access to abortion care in other states, including travel and lodging expenses, and to provide free emergency contraception at all of our health centers through the end of the year. Contributions from our supporters provided $1.9M of charity care to our patients, averaging $162,400 every month. Specifically, the major sources of patient assistance funds were our sliding fee scale which provides discounts based on family size and income; Methodist Healthcare Ministries, which reimburses Planned Parenthood South Texas for eligible patient visits; healthcare vouchers provided to community members through our educational outreach program Habla Con Tu Hermana; and direct assistance with abortion care. Planned Parenthood South Texas is delivering on its promise to provide the information and health care that people need to plan their families and their futures. We are well positioned for continued growth in the years ahead. A profound thank you to all of you who stand with us and raise your voices to advocate for the essential health care that we provide. None of this would be possible without your partnership and support.
Catherine Payer Treasurer, Planned Parenthood South Texas Board of Directors(615,418)
46,635 (2,188) -4%
411,059 11,930
64,637
562,159 32,723
139,937 (8,222)
290,525 33,546
113,411 51,731
244,108 14,040
489,432 (37,759) -7%
9,819,259 23,851
Health Care Services
GYNECOLOGY
Pelvic exams; tests and treatment for vaginal infections and urinary tract infections; clinical evaluation of menopause and hormonal replacement therapy when indicated; clinical breast exams that can detect abnormalities, including the early signs of breast cancer; mammogram referrals.
PREGNANCY TESTING
Urine tests, blood tests, and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) tests to help diagnose ectopic pregnancy.
ABORTION CARE
We paused all abortion care after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Texas law prevents us from providing navigation for abortion care out of state, but our health centers that receive Title X federal family planning funding (Harlingen clinic, Brownsville clinic, Marbach and Southeast clinics in San Antonio) are able to provide limited navigation to out-of-state abortion care.
MALE SEXUAL HEALTH EXAMS
Examination of the genitals and perianal region, including hydrocele, varicocele, and signs of sexually transmitted infections; clinical examination of the testicles to screen for abnormalities that could become cancer and patient instruction on performing self-examination.
GENDER-AFFIRMING
HORMONE THERAPY
Estrogen or testosterone for patients who are transgender, non-binary or gender-nonconforming. This service is available for patients 18 years old and older at all of our health centers.
BIRTH CONTROL
Our focus since our founding in 1939. Includes condoms, several types of birth control pills, long-acting reversible contraceptives (IUDs and implants), the birth control shot, the vaginal ring, the hormonal patch, and emergency contraception.
STI TESTING AND TREATMENT
Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including the latest rapid-based testing for some of the more frequently requested tests that can provide results at the time of visit.
STOP CERVICAL CANCER
Vaccines to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV); HPV tests and Pap tests; diagnosis of cervical cells that could lead to cancer; removal of abnormal cells before they can lead to cancer; and, for people with cervical cancer, referrals and patient navigation for immediate oncological care.
REFERRALS FOR PREGNANCY OPTIONS
Planned Parenthood respects all decisions by patients regarding their pregnancies. We provide patients who decide to continue their pregnancy with information and referrals for prenatal care and adoption services.
PRIMARY CARE
Screenings and treatment for conditions such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, anemia, depression, anxiety, allergies, and acne, as well as treatment for sore throat, eye infections and more. Virtual visits (telehealth) available for many services.
PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PrEP)
Prescription for daily medication to lower the risk of contracting the virus for people at higher risk of HIV infection.
FERTILITY SERVICES
Diagnosis of common causes of infertility and provision of initial treatment options.
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