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Crisis Pregnancy Centers in Louisiana Face Oversight Challenges Amid Ultrasound Use
The auditors trying to learn how a dozen crisis pregnancy centers in Louisiana had spent nearly $1.2 million ultimately could not figure it out. Despite a new law, the state had failed to establish a process for the centers or…
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Key points
- Crisis pregnancy centers in Louisiana received nearly $1.2 million but lack oversight for medical services.
- Auditors found these centers operate without necessary licenses, raising patient safety concerns.
- Legislative attempts to mandate licensing for these centers have faced significant opposition.
NewsWK — Brandi Swindell, founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, oversees a flagship crisis pregnancy center in Meridian, Idaho, which offers various services including obstetric ultrasounds and STI testing. However, similar centers in Louisiana have sparked concern over their operational oversight and use of taxpayer funds.
Auditors investigating spending at a dozen Louisiana crisis pregnancy centers, which collectively received nearly $1.2 million, found a significant lack of accountability. Despite a law intended to increase oversight, there was no established process to monitor how these centers utilized the funds or provided medical services. “They were providing medical services, and no, they were not licensed by our Department of Health,” stated Gina Brown, performance audit manager for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
The centers, which have received substantial public funding, operate without regular inspections or the necessary licenses to provide medical services. This raises concerns about patient safety and care quality, especially for women facing difficult pregnancy decisions.
Critics, including OB-GYNs and reproductive health advocates, argue that the absence of oversight compromises the care provided at these centers. Registered diagnostic medical sonographer Shari Richard expressed concerns about the training of staff offering ultrasounds, stating, “The thing is, these nurses, they have good hearts. They don’t know what they don’t know.” She highlighted that some training programs may not provide adequate hands-on experience.
Currently, about 100 pregnancy centers across the U.S. claim to provide ultrasounds to rule out ectopic pregnancies, which require immediate medical intervention. However, experts caution against these claims, noting that centers often lack the resources to conduct comprehensive evaluations of such potentially dangerous conditions. Anne O’Connor, vice president of legal affairs for NIFLA, advised against advertising such capabilities, labeling it as misleading.
Legislative efforts in Louisiana to mandate licensing for centers offering ultrasounds have faced resistance. While a recent proposal was amended to require centers to disclose their unlicensed status, some lawmakers contend that the primary aim of ultrasounds at these facilities is to display fetal images rather than provide medical advice. Representative Raymond Crews remarked, “When someone goes to a crisis pregnancy center, what do you think the purpose of the ultrasound is? The baby, right?” Meanwhile, advocates for crisis centers argue that they operate under the supervision of licensed medical directors, which they believe provides sufficient regulatory oversight.
Despite the significant funding and the vital services claimed to be provided, the lack of transparency regarding medical oversight raises questions about the safety and effectiveness of care at crisis pregnancy centers in Louisiana. As funding for such centers continues to grow, the demand for increased accountability and regulation remains a pressing issue.
Based on reporting by Sofia Resnick originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
