THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!
What’s it like operating an abortion clinic in Wyoming, one of the most anti-abortion states in the nation? Meet Julie Burkhart — longtime reproductive rights advocate, founder and CEO of Trust Women Foundation, which works to expand access to abortion care in underserved communities, and protégé of Dr. George Tiller, who was murdered for providing abortion care. Hear how Dr. Tiller’s legacy lives on through her work.
Why are patients traveling hundreds of miles for abortion care, post-Roe? What’s it been like to offer care in as state where arson, litigation, and political threats against reproductive care providers are part of daily life.
Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!
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SHOW NOTES
WE DISCUSS
Tell us about a state bill that could shut down Wellspring Health Access, the sole surgical abortion clinic in Wyoming.
“We call it TRAP — Targeted Regulations against Abortion Providers.
“It would require us to become an ambulatory surgery center, which in the state of Wyoming is not a requirement, nor is it medically necessary <laugh> to have an [Ambulatory Service Center] to provide abortion care.
“So our clinic is structured as a doctor’s office, so we would not meet the ambulatory surgery center code. We would have to make tons of changes to the clinic. It would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And then also it has a hospital privileges provision that says doctors have to have hospital privileges, which is also medically unnecessary, nor is it common for doctors to have hospital privileges.
“We have one hospital in Casper. They’re the ones who would hold all the cards and not necessarily grant us privileges and so that would also shut down our clinical practice.” – Julie Burkhartt
What would that mean for your operations, and how would it impact your patients?
“We would have some decisions to make. Do we comply with the law and just make the changes and cross our fingers that we would get a license, that our doctors would get privileges? Or do we file a lawsuit? Or I guess the third option would be we don’t do anything and just shut it all down.
“… [For our patients] it would be devastating. We see people from all over the state of Wyoming. We also provide telehealth services to people and that would have a grave impact on their healthcare.” – Julie Burkhart
What are the biggest barriers for patients in Wyoming seeking abortion care, and how does your clinic help them overcome these challenges?
“I think the biggest challenges for people are the travel distance and then the overall cost. 80% to 90% of our patients receive some level of assistance for their appointments.
“It could be for the medical care they’re getting. It could be transportation, lodging, food. So that’s a really big obstacle for people. And then transportation and just the distance.
“We have a great partnership with a nonprofit that will fly our patients. So we’ve worked with them a lot. Especially say you’re coming from Utah, you know it’s going to be faster and easier to hop on a flight. So we have funds we work with to do not only funding for the medical care, but also all this wraparound logistical care as well … ” – Julie Burkhart
Helpful Links
Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers, The Guttmacher Institute
Latest Wyoming abortion law challenge gets a hearing — and a new judge, CAP City News
New Wyoming abortion law forces more patients to travel to neighboring states, Wyoming Public Radio
Episode Transcript
Read the full episode transcript.
Biography: Julie Burkhart
Julie A. Burkhart is the founder and CEO of Trust Women Foundation, which works to expand access to abortion care in underserved communities. She is also the President of Wellspring Health Access, a women’s health clinic in Wyoming.
With over 20 years of experience in management, policy development, and operations, Julie has built a career dedicated to advancing reproductive rights and healthcare access. She is a strategic leader known for her integrity, ability to build strong networks, and commitment to regulatory excellence.
Her expertise spans public policy, business development, and high-level advocacy, making her a key figure in the fight for reproductive freedom. Through her work, she continues to empower individuals and communities by ensuring they have the healthcare choices they deserve.
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