Missouri health officials on Friday refused to renew the license of the state’s last remaining clinic that provides abortions, but the St. Louis facility will continue to provide abortions for now because a judge’s order remains in place.
In a letter to the clinic, state health official William Koebel wrote that the decision to not renew the license was “based on the serious, extensive unresolved deficiencies.”
The letter said the clinic has addressed some concerns outlined by state regulators but not others, leaving the facility out of compliance with state law.
Earlier this month, a St. Louis Circuit Court judge granted Planned Parenthood’s request to temporarily prevent state officials from revoking the clinic’s license to provide abortions in the face of health officials attempting to revoke the license of the state’s sole abortion provider.
It was the latest in a series of short-term legal reprieves for the clinic.At a court hearing on Friday, Judge Michael Stelzer said it is not clear when the court will reach a final decision on whether the state can stop abortion services at the clinic, which is run by Planned Parenthood, NPR member station St. Louis Public Radio reported.
