MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – In April, Planned Parenthood of Michigan (PPMI) announced the closures of its clinics in Marquette, Petoskey, and Jackson. Now, other providers are looking for ways to meet local needs and expand access to these kinds of care in Michigan.
This includes virtual options, such as Hey Jane, who has offered services since 2021 in abortion care, birth control, and STD treatments, all online.
“Our core focus so far has been medication abortion care through telemedicine,” said CEO and Co-Founder, Kiki Freedman. “Allowing patients to get these really safe, FDA approved medications sent directly to them, with full wrap-around support from providers.”
As Michigan still protects abortion in the state, in-person care gaps are heavy throughout. For many, the only options are long drives to the nearest available location, as currently 73 of 83 counties in Michigan have no in-person clinics, and one-third of counties have no OB-GYN services at all.
“In the Upper Peninsula, there are now no clinics providing abortion care in any county of that region,” said Freedman. “So, we do think its important for patients to be able to access this treatment without driving long distances, and all of the other burdens that come with those hurdles.”
A major breakthrough with Hey Jane, is its acceptance to insurance, being the only fully digital provider to be able to do so. Since its launch, Hey Jane has helped more than 85,000 patients across the now 23 states it serves. For more information, visit heyjane.com.
