Planned Parenthood of Montana clinic to open in Bozeman

Idaho Capital Sun · Keila Szpaller · September 9, 2026

(Thomas Barwick/Getty Images) Planned Parenthood of Montana announced Tuesday it is opening a new clinic in Bozeman in summer 2027.

In a news release, Planned Parenthood said it is proud to be expanding when sexual and reproductive care infrastructure is shrinking across the nation.

It said the clinic will provide procedural abortion, which is only available in Missoula, Helena and the Flathead in Montana.

The organization has health centers in Billings, Helena, Great Falls and Missoula, plus “a robust telehealth program.”

In an interview, Planned Parenthood of Montana CEO and President Martha Fuller said the organization is locating its new health center in Bozeman for several reasons. Bozeman is one of the fastest-growing cities in Montana and has a young population, she said, and it has not had a consistent abortion provider for a long time.

She said the need already is demonstrated there.

“We, every year, see about 1,400 patients coming from the Bozeman area to our other areas not just for abortion care but other services,” Fuller said.

Bozeman also has a busy airport, and she said at least once a month, out-of-state travelers fly into Bozeman and drive to Helena for care.

The Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research and policy organization with a mission to advance sexual and reproductive rights, said 200 people traveled to Montana for abortion in 2025. Fuller said many come from Idaho, which has a total ban on abortion. The Guttmacher Institute counts 13 states with complete abortion bans.

A news release about the health center said the $2 million renovation started Tuesday with $1.5 million raised to date with help from Bozeman volunteers, and the project will transform a professional building “into a high-caliber medical space.”

The center will have around seven rooms, including space for consultations, smaller-sized exam rooms, and larger rooms for procedures.

The organization said it aims to raise an additional $1.5 million to support operations for its first year. Fuller said some donations are coming from out-of-state supporters, but the project has seen “an incredible response” from donors in Bozeman and across Montana.

In a statement, Planned Parenthood of Montana Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Dickman said many patients prefer to have an abortion procedure instead of a medication abortion, whether they’re farther along in a pregnancy, have a condition that requires a procedure, or “want the certainty of not being pregnant when they walk out the door.”

“That choice is what our patients deserve, and they shouldn’t have to drive long distances for it,” Dickman said in a statement.

The Montana Constitution protects abortion, but the government may regulate abortion after fetal viability. In a 1999 decision, the Montana Supreme Court said the constitution’s strict right to privacy covers choices in medical care, including abortion. In 2024, voters approved a constitutional amendment that says people have the right to make decisions about their own pregnancy, including the right to an abortion.

Fuller said lawmakers can do many things to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services, but she does not anticipate seeing such legislation from the 2027 Montana Legislature.

The Montana Legislature has attempted to restrict abortion in the past, but legislation has not withstood court challenges .

In the 2025 session, Fuller said Planned Parenthood saw a “significant decline” in the number of bills that aimed to curtail abortion, and no litigation came out of it. However, she said Planned Parenthood of Montana is the largest provider of gender-affirming care in the state, and she anticipates restrictions proposed in the 2027 Montana Legislature.

A spokesperson for the Legislative Services Division said Tuesday no draft bill requests are specifically related to abortion access or gender-affirming care so far, although some requests seek to make general revisions to health care laws.

The new health center is supported by peer providers including Bridgercare, the news release said. It said the new clinic will co-locate with Good Medicine Wellness Center, which will provide mental health care and community programming to Bozeman’s Indigenous community.

Statements from Bridgercare, Montana Family Planning, Planned Parenthood of Montana

Statement from Stephanie McDowell, executive eirector, Bridgercare and Montana Family Planning:

“ We have enjoyed a strong, collaborative relationship with Planned Parenthood of Montana for decades, and we have tremendous respect for the work they do to advance reproductive healthcare across our state. Abortion is healthcare, and people have the right to make their own healthcare decisions with safety, dignity, and support. We’re excited to welcome them to Bozeman and look forward to continuing that partnership as we work together to ensure people have access to the care, information, and support they need.”

Statement from Dr. Samuel Dickman, Chief Medical Officer, Planned Parenthood of Montana:

“Bozeman will soon have a new Planned Parenthood health center that offers primary care, medication abortion, and procedural abortion services. Many patients either need or prefer to have an abortion procedure rather than a medication abortion, whether that’s because they’re farther along in a pregnancy, because they have a medical condition that means they need a procedural abortion, or they simply want the certainty of not being pregnant when they walk out the door. That choice is what our patients deserve, and they shouldn’t have to drive long distances for it. Building new abortion access in Bozeman, which is a key access point for much of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah, and which has the busiest airport in Montana, will make it that much easier for our patients to get abortions and other critically important medical services. We’re looking forward to meeting that need.”

Statement from Martha Fuller, CEO & President, Planned Parenthood of Montana:

“For over 55 years, Planned Parenthood of Montana has served Montanans and their families, and we are proud to provide care across four health centers and via telehealth in every corner of our state. Everyone — no matter their zip code — deserves access to affordable, quality reproductive, preventative, and primary health care. We will always do whatever we can to ensure our communities have access to the care and resources needed to live healthy, thriving lives. In the face of relentless political attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights and Planned Parenthood’s mission, we are not backing down. That is why we are proud to be in the process of opening a new health center in Bozeman to serve more of our community members with the care and information they need. We are grateful for the support from our generous donors and community leaders.”

This story was originally produced by Daily Montanan , which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Idaho Capital Sun, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Read the full story at Idaho Capital Sun