Lakeland Health Center to close in March: Planned Parenthood

We can confirm that Planned Parenthood of Florida's Lakeland Health Center will close on March 13, 2026. This outcome is the direct result of escalating government attacks that have blocked patients using Medicaid from accessing essential reproductive health care across Florida and the country. The Lakeland Health Center served a significant number of patients who used Medicaid insurance plans to access a range of preventive care, including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and virtual mental health care.


Like many Planned Parenthoods across the country, after the “Defund” provision that blocks Planned Parenthood health centers from accepting Medicaid went into effect, PPFL worked to ensure continuity of care for patients using Medicaid by providing care for urgent visits and completing ongoing treatment plans at no cost. We have always known this approach was not sustainable in the long term.



While we have supported patients in transitioning to alternate providers, efforts to permanently block Planned Parenthood from accepting Medicaid at the national level — and parallel efforts to codify that provision into state law —pose a serious and lasting threat to public health. These actions would permanently cut off patients covered by Medicaid from Planned Parenthood health centers, stripping them of access to essential preventive and reproductive health care. So far, 23 Planned Parenthood health centers across the country have been forced to close because of the loss of Medicaid, leaving thousands of patients with few options for health care and higher costs.



While this was an incredibly difficult decision, it does not change our commitment to the people of Polk County and the surrounding region. Patients will continue to have uninterrupted access to high-quality, compassionate care at all PPFL health centers—including Tampa, Orlando, and Kissimmee —and via Telehealth, where we have recently expanded services to help fill gaps created by these politically motivated barriers. We have compiled a list of other providers in the area, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, for our patients.



Patients may obtain their records at the Lakeland location through March 13, 2026. Patient records will remain accessible at any Planned Parenthood of Florida location; copies of records can be requested by calling 1-800-230-7526 or accessing them through MyChart.



A total of six employees are affected by this decision. We are supporting them throughout this transition and have offered them the opportunity to fill positions at the nearest health centers.