BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) 鈥� Minnesota medical providers and public officials are preparing to welcome patients traveling from Iowa, where a after about six weeks of pregnancy goes into effect Monday.
On Thursday, Minnesota's Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan toured the Whole Woman鈥檚 Health of Minnesota, a nonprofit abortion clinic in the city of Bloomington. She welcomed Iowa residents who were seeking abortions after the state's .
Previously, abortion was legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa. Last July, the state's Republican-controlled legislature passed a new ban on the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before women know they are pregnant. There are limited exceptions in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormality or when the life of the mother is in danger.
Sarah Traxler, an OB-GYN based in Minnesota and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said Iowa's law could have ripple effects throughout the region.
鈥淲hen the Dobbs decision came down, many of the patients coming to Iowa were from Missouri,鈥� Traxler said in an interview with . 鈥淭his is going to have resounding impacts on the region itself, especially the Midwest and the South.鈥�
The Iowa Supreme Court that there is no constitutional right to an abortion in the state and ordered a hold on the law to be lifted. The district court judge鈥檚 orders last week set July 29 as the first day of enforcement.
Across the country, the state of abortion access has being changing ever since the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women鈥檚 Health Organization. Trigger laws immediately went into effect, new restrictions were passed, court battles put those on hold and in some places, there was expanded access.
In states with restrictions, the main abortion options are getting or and , vastly in states with more access.
Whole Woman鈥檚 Health of Minnesota has served patients from South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas over the past year. Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of the clinic, said she expects to see an increase in patient demand after Iowa's restrictions take effect.
Flanagan said Minnesota would remain committed to serving people traveling from other states seeking abortion care.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e afraid, come to Minnesota," Flanagan said. "We鈥檝e got you."
The Associated Press
