Planned Parenthood Seeks Strategic Move

Planned Parenthood has operated a health center in Pottstown for roughly 35 years.

The economy might change that.

Dayle Steinberg, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, moments ago discussed the center’s possible consolidation with the organization’s Collegeville branch.

“We’re exploring that,” she said. Planned Parenthood is seeing an increasing number of patients who have lost health insurance, she said. 

Each year, Planned Parenthood sees about 5,500 patients in Pottstown and 3,000 patients in Collegeville, Steinberg said. 

The organization is working with a consultant to decide whether it should merge, expand or close the Pottstown center, she said and added they hope to decide on a plan in about six months.

“We are looking to consolidate Pottstown and Collegeville … if it makes sense,” Steinberg said. “We are hoping to expand services at our remaining centers … We want to be in places that are easily accessible.”  

The organization has struggled with its budget for years, she said, and gets “terrible, terrible reimbursement for Medicaid in Pennsylvania.”

About 40 percent of Planned Parenthood patients in southeastern Pennsylvania are insured under Medicaid, Steinberg said. An average examination costs Planned Parenthood about $125 to provide a patient for which the organization gets only $20 in Medicaid reimbursement, she said.

“Our reimbursement rates are some of the worst in the country,” Steinberg said. 

Planned Parenthood today shut down centers in Ambler, Montgomery County, and Avondale, Chester County, Steinberg said. The organization operates 13 health centers in Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, she said. 

The possible consolidation is not just a matter of cutting expenses, she said. 

“That’s why we have to implement … strategic restructuring of our network of health centers,” Steinberg said. “We want more efficient, higher volume sites.” 

No matter the outcome, Steinberg said Planned Parenthood will remain dedicated to its patients.

“We’re gonna be there for the community,” she said.