LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) - Three health clinics in western Wisconsin will become Planned Parenthood locations Aug. 19 under a merger.

None of the Essential Health Clinics in La Crosse, Sparta or Blair will offer abortions under the merger, but they could in the future. Of Planned Parenthood’s 21 existing clinics in Wisconsin, only those in Madison, Milwaukee and Sheboygan offer abortions.

The La Crosse Tribune reports Friday that Planned Parenthood has been working with the three clinics for decades and talks of a merger began in recent months. The clinics will offer birth control by mail, online appointment scheduling, greater access to commercial insurance coverage, early pregnancy complication assessments and access to the HPV vaccine.

Julaine Appling, president of the anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action, calls the merger regrettable because it strengthens Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin.

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