UMKC students value campus reproductive health services amid Planned Parenthood closures

  A provision in the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill Act barred Medicaid from funding healthcare providers that provided abortions in July of 2025, an act that is being challenged by Planned Parenthood. 

  While Kansas City still has its running clinic, when factoring in affordability, transportation, and comfort, UMKC students favor Roo Wellness’ health exams, saying they are approachable and practical. 

  Services include emergency contraceptives, pregnancy testing and counseling, safer sex education and more.

  Caroline Hopkins, a freshman studying music education, discovered Roo Wellness through friends who utilized their free STD testing services, which later became her source for birth control refills.

  “I ended up switching to a different option than I was on before because they were so informative and helpful,” Hopkins said. 

  The convenient five-minute walk from her dorm influenced her to try their resources over Kansas City’s Planned Parenthood.

  “It’s great that they offer it through the university, especially for people that aren’t on insurance or they’re living on their own for the first time.” Hopkins added, “They don’t really know what their options are.”

  Hopkins also noted their appreciation for Roo Wellness’ free contraceptives, whether condoms or Plan B, “College students are going to have sex…and we can’t afford a lot of stuff, so I think it’s really great for our health, safety and our wellbeing.”

  Freshman Briar Kraft, a political science major on the pre-law track, has also frequented campus health services.

 “I’ve been to Roo Wellness a couple of times for other health issues,” Kraft said. “Every time I have gone there, they’ve always provided me with resources. If they cannot provide [them], they will give you [other] resources so that you can get what you need.”

 They explained that reaching out to campus health services is an accessible first step, with potentially better resources tailored to students. While only being a few months settled into KC, they have seen Planned Parenthood a few times.

  “I have noticed the poor infrastructure of the building, so that can be a little off-putting,” Kraft said, “Personally, I would definitely feel more comfortable going to a place like Roo Wellness first.”

  Kraft also elaborated that the current political climate and administration’s interference with the right to national reproductive healthcare has a myriad of negative effects on students, even if they aren’t paying attention.

“[abortion legality at state discretion] empowers the negativity that is surrounded by the thought of abortion and that can affect students, even if legislation is not directly affecting them yet,” Kraft said. 

“We are teenagers, young adults: we are going to make stupid decisions, we are going to be impulsive, and we should have access to things and resources that make reproductive care accessible.” 

 Senior Fariid Tokpah, a political science major minoring in economics, pointed to the political implications of reproductive healthcare in a red state.

“We live in a pro-choice area…but we are in a very, very pro-life state,” Tokpah said. 

  He said this is reflected in the recent 2026 ballot initiative, an attempt to overturn the November 2024 approval of Amendment 3, which made abortion legal in Missouri. 

  “It has a lot of misleading ballot language…and ballot candy talking about banning trans healthcare for minors,” Tokpah said, “It’s already illegal in Missouri, so it’s a point to get more votes to repeal the will of voters.”

  Tokpah said that accessible reproductive healthcare for students ultimately resides in the return of Roe v. Wade, and should be considered the bare minimum.

  For more information or to book an appointment with Roo Wellness, access their website for student health exams, counseling and accessibility services.

  Kansas City’s Planned Parenthood – Patty Brous Health Center can be reached online or at (816) 756-2277.