Michigan Urgent Care Model Expands Access to Medication Abortion

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a local urgent care center has implemented a new model for reproductive health by offering medication abortions to patients. This approach is being viewed as a potential template for other states where abortion remains legal but the operation of dedicated reproductive rights clinics has become increasingly difficult.

The initiative at Marquette Medical Urgent Care began in the summer of 2025. The service was established after the Planned Parenthood clinic in Marquette closed in April 2025, which left the remote region without in-person options for abortion care.

Addressing the Gap in Rural Access

The closure of the Marquette Planned Parenthood clinic removed a critical resource for approximately 1,100 patients who relied on the facility annually. Beyond abortion medication, the clinic provided essential services including IUD insertions and cancer screenings.

Following the closure, the Upper Peninsula faced a significant void in healthcare access. Dr. Shawn Brown, the owner of Marquette Medical Urgent Care, described the situation as a 500-mile stretch of no access.

The decision to integrate medication abortion into an urgent care setting was developed by a network of local healthcare workers and community members. Dr. Viktoria Koskenoja, an emergency medicine physician and former Planned Parenthood of Michigan employee, noted that the most urgent priority was replacing in-person abortion services.

The Urgent Care Model

Marquette Medical Urgent Care operates as a general medical facility, treating a variety of common cases such as skiing injuries, migraines, and pediatric flu. The addition of medication abortion allows these services to be integrated into a broader primary care environment.

Dr. Brown, who describes herself as individually pro-life, added the service to ensure patients in the remote region had a local medical professional they could trust for care.

This model addresses several barriers that virtual care cannot solve. While Planned Parenthood of Michigan and other providers offer abortion pills online—which are legal in Michigan up to 11 weeks of pregnancy—certain patients still require in-person intervention.

• Patients requiring ultrasounds to determine the stage of pregnancy.
• Individuals lacking reliable internet access for telehealth.
• Patients who prefer face-to-face consultations with known medical professionals.

Data from Planned Parenthood of Michigan indicated an 18% increase in telehealth appointments for Upper Peninsula patients in the first three months following the Marquette clinic’s closure, highlighting the increased reliance on remote options when physical clinics disappear.

Broader Trends in Clinic Closures

The shift toward urgent care models comes amid a wider trend of clinic closures across the United States. According to data from I Need an A, a project supported by various nonprofits, at least 38 abortion clinics shut down last year in states where the procedure remains legal.

This decline in dedicated reproductive health facilities has created a need for alternative delivery systems. By utilizing existing urgent care infrastructure, providers can maintain access to medication abortion without the overhead or specific challenges associated with operating a standalone reproductive rights clinic.

The most important thing that we felt we needed to replace immediately, was access to in-person abortion services.

Dr. Viktoria Koskenoja

As reproductive health landscapes continue to shift, the Marquette model suggests that diversifying the types of facilities that provide medication abortion may be essential for maintaining patient access in rural and underserved areas.