As of January 1, 2004, a pregnancy of more than 15 weeks can only be terminated in a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center. These procedures cannot be performed in a clinic or physicials office.
Because of this new law, Planned Parenthood was forced to outsource their late term abortions to AARON Women's Clinic of Houston and Southeast Texas or to physicians willing to terminate the children in local hospitals. Currently, Aaron Women's clinic is the only abortion provider with an ambulatory surgery center which enables abortion services up to 25 weeks.
The average price for abortions after 15.5 weeks is around $1,700. That is money Planned Parenthood has not been receiving because of their inability to perform late term abortions - an estimated lost revenue of almost $500,000 each year.
But that will change with the opening of the new abortion clinic on the Gulf Freeway. Planned Parenthood will be making thousands more with their new clinic with the entire third floor being made into an ambulatory surgical center.
Source: Texas Statues: Health and Safey Code
Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas
Sept. 2003 State Law Change