Contact: Meg Wittman, Executive Director, 513-728-7870
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, January 7, 2020 (Cincinnati, OH):
On December 26, 2019, Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, informed Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region (PPSWO) that their variance was rescinded, and then proposed that their license to operate be revoked. The catalyst for this action was the fact that Dr. David Schwartz ended his agreement with Planned Parenthood to act as one of four back up physicians for the facility.
Since September 2013, PPSWO's surgical center on Auburn Avenue in Cincinnati has had to rely on a variance granted by Ohio law in lieu of a written transfer agreement with a local hospital. This variance has been granted annually as PPSWO has contracted with four local physicians who have admitting privileges at The Christ Hospital.
In her communication on December 26th regarding the variance, Amy Acton wrote, "I granted PPSWO's variance request on May 28, 2019, on the basis that it had four backup physicians who would provide backup coverage and hospital admission to patients...Because I find that three backup physicians are inadequate to provide the same level of patient health and safety that a written transfer agreement with a local hospital provides, I am rescinding the variance issued to PPSWO effective as of the date of this letter." In a separate communication she proposed an order that PPSWO's license be revoked as they no longer comply with Ohio law. This proposal gives PPSWO thirty days to request a hearing if they wish to challenge the license revocation.
It is likely PPSWO will request such a hearing and that they will continue to seek hospitals and local doctors to work with them. PPSWO's surgical center is located in Cincinnati, but it is a far reaching organization with satellite locations in Hamilton, Springfield, and Dayton.
