Marquette Urgent Care Offers Abortions

Following the closure of the Planned Parenthood clinic in Marquette, United States — Michigan, in spring 2025, Shawn Brown, owner of Marquette Medical Urgent Care, decided to offer medication abortions. This decision was made to address the significant lack of in-person abortion access in United States — Michigan's Upper Peninsula, which became a 500-mile stretch without such services. The closure of the Planned Parenthood clinic was attributed to financial challenges and funding cuts, including those from the Trump administration to programs like United States — Medicaid. Viktoria Koskenoja, a physician who previously worked at Planned Parenthood, played a key role in organizing community efforts to find solutions. Marquette Medical Urgent Care faced hurdles in securing medical malpractice insurance for abortion services but eventually obtained it at a reasonable premium. The clinic also received community support, including a local donor covering an ultrasound machine and a nonprofit subsidizing medication costs, reducing patient fees. The clinic now serves patients from various locations, including Louisiana, and is on track to match the volume of abortion patients previously served by the local Planned Parenthood office. This development highlights a growing trend of urgent care clinics filling gaps in abortion access, especially in rural areas, while also navigating complex regulatory environments.