New funding for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte previously asked the health care district for the entire $1 million in October 2025, when the board decided to split the grant in two. While the grant fills half the gap in federal funding anticipated for the current fiscal year, the financial need will likely be ongoing. 

Jerry Shefren, member of the Board of Directors, acknowledged the difficulty of predicting “how things are going to change over the next three years” but wondered if the health care district’s grant may need to be a more consistent budget item. The board was unanimous on supporting the health facility. 

The awarded grant was considered by Planned Parenthood Mar Monte as strictly an emergency source of funding, Sarabeth Janzen, director of Development Partnership for the organization, said Wednesday. 

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the Northern California and Nevada affiliate of the parent organization, lost around $100 million of its $160 million annual budget due to the federal funding cuts last year, Janzen said. Five clinics were closed as a result. 

Knowing the volatility of federal support, the organization has worked to establish new revenue sources, Janzen said. In addition to looking for local financial options, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte staff are also thinking outside the box, she said. 

The health facility is beginning to introduce new services — some of which are cosmetic, rather than medical — offered on a cash basis. The charges for these services, which would be paid out of pocket, will be used to “support and underwrite the essential health care costs,” Janzen said. 

New services, including administering Botox and offering a telehealth perimenopausal care program, are being slowly introduced at Planned Parenthood Mar Monte’s remaining 30 clinics. These are currently offered at the organization’s Sacramento and San Jose locations; they’ll be introduced soon to Redwood City, staff said. 

While Planned Parenthood Mar Monte often serves under-resourced residents — 3 in 4 patients are on Medicaid — those with the means or private insurance are invited to take advantage of these newer incoming services, Janzen said. 

The organization is working to reach out to residents who support Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and want trusted health care services to pivot and pay out of pocket and “know their cash pay will support patients who are unable to pay” Janzen said. 

Since the closure of San Mateo County’s two other locations previously in San Mateo and South San Francisco, the Redwood City facility has seen an influx of patients. 

Approximately 44% of patients served at the Planned Parenthood Mar Monte location at 2907 El Camino Real are from the Sequoia Healthcare District’s service area, Janzen said. 

The health care district collects taxes to provide community-based health care services and represents central and southern San Mateo County residents. This includes residents of Atherton, Belmont, Redwood City, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside and portions of Menlo Park, Foster City and San Mateo.