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North Country Planned Parenthood Announces Closure of
Lowville and Ogdensburg Health Centers by End of Year Under Service
Consolidation Plan
Published: September 28, 2026
at 04:00 p.m.
By: Press Release
from Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York
Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York to
Consolidate Health Centers by the End of 2026 to Preserve Access to Care
OGDENSBURG &
LOWVILLE, NY — Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York
(PPNCNY) announced today that it intends to close its Ogdensburg and
Lowville Health Centers by December 31, 2026. Patients who currently
receive care at these health centers will continue to have access to
services through PPNCNY’s Canton and Watertown Health Centers and via
telehealth.
As the nation’s
leading provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive healthcare,
Planned Parenthood serves a unique and irreplaceable role in the health
care system. In the current healthcare environment, Planned Parenthood
affiliates face many of the same, and often greater, challenges as other
providers, including an increasingly hostile political climate, low
reimbursement rates, and the rising costs of providing care.
“This decision
was not made lightly,” said Crystal Collette, President and CEO of Planned
Parenthood of the North Country New York. “For years, we have worked to
protect patients amid escalating political attacks and a changing
healthcare landscape to preserve access to care. Recent federal funding
attacks and ongoing instability have made that approach no longer
sustainable — not just for Planned Parenthood, but for healthcare systems
across the North Country.”
“PPNCNY is
committed to ensuring access to care for rural communities in particular,
which is increasingly fragile,” Collette added. “We are deeply concerned
about the long-term stability of health care in our region. We will
continue to be a trusted provider for the nearly 8,000 patients who rely on
us each year, providing more than 14,000 visits across the North Country.
This decision, while difficult, is necessary to ensure we remain a
sustainable organization that can continue providing high-quality healthcare
and education for our communities.”
By consolidating
services, strengthening operations in Canton and Watertown, and expanding
telehealth access, PPNCNY the organization will be better positioned to
continue serving patients who rely on it for essential sexual and
reproductive healthcare. Patients transitioning from Ogdensburg and
Lowville will be supported by dedicated patient navigators who can assist
with appointment scheduling, telehealth access, and identifying
transportation resources for in-person care at the Canton and Watertown Health
Centers.
Importantly, no
staff members will lose their jobs as a result of
this consolidation. Staff will be retained and reallocated
to support patient care and operations across the organization.
Planned
Parenthood of the North Country New York has served the region for 56 years
and remains committed to being here for future generations. By making
thoughtful, strategic decisions now, PPNCNY is strengthening its ability to
serve more patients, maintain access to care, and uphold its mission across
the North Country.
Patients
currently receiving care at the Ogdensburg and Lowville Health Centers will
be contacted directly with information about next steps, appointment
scheduling, and support services.
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About Planned
Parenthood of the North Country New York
Planned
Parenthood of the North Country New York provides comprehensive
reproductive and sexual health care, education, and advocacy services
across six counties in Northern New York, including Lewis, Jefferson, St.
Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, and Essex.
The New York
State Family Planning Program is supported by the federal Title X program.
Content does not necessarily represent the official views of the United
States Government.
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