In nearly all cases, family planning programs were either restricted or eliminated altogether. Pro-choice and civil liberties groups have fought this growing trend, though, by seeking to obtain settlements which could be used to continue abortion and contraception services at independent clinics. Last week, St. Luke's Hospital and Regional Trauma Center in Duluth, Minnesota announced that it was breaking off merger talks with Ministry Health Care Corp. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During a public hearing in January, residents of Duluth told officials that they feared that the new conglomerate would restrict availability to family planning services. With rising costs and stagnant levels of payment from Medicare and private insurers, secular hospitals are experiencing a major cash crunch.
Referrals are another problem when the church takes over a community hospital.
In many cases, patients which solicit prohibited services cannot find a referral or a nearby, affordable provider. Catholics for a Free Choice says that the number of healthcare markets where the church-run hospital is the only provider is now 76, up from 46 just three years ago. Inc. All rights reserved.