IdeaLog

Why focus on UPCs?

Posted on September 3, 2025

There is a vast network of Unregulated Pregnancy Clinics (UPCs), commonly called “crisis pregnancy centers,” which falsely present themselves as full-service reproductive health clinics. While their main mission is to prevent abortion, they play a key organizing role for the MAGA movement.

In your state, there are more UPCs (see this map), and they are richer, than you imagine. Nationally, about 2,600 UPCs collectively raise and spend around $2.5 billion a year. So, even though, on average, they see relatively few clients (about seven new clients in a 5-day week) and use volunteers to keep expenses low, they each somehow raise almost $1 million per year. In most cases, neither the government nor the public know what they do with the money.

UPCs routinely violate fundamental ethical rules and vigorously resist requirements that they operate under established standards of transparency and care. UPCs collect private health information and claim to protect client confidentiality, but are not subject to the professional and legal obligations to protect individual privacy that govern regulated medical offices. UPC clients are thus led to believe their private health information is protected, while being exposed to privacy breaches and possible criminal prosecution. Many UPCs promote misleading medical claims without adhering to basic standards of care and face little accountability for their operations or outcomes.

PLI created the UPC Playbook to help policymakers and advocates address these systemic failures. It offers sensible solutions and strategic tools to address UPC’s core failings: lack of health and safety standards, scant financial transparency and accountability, absence of data privacy protections, and deceptive practices. Grounded in research and developed with expert input, the Playbook includes model bills, talking points, and messaging strategies that you can tailor to various state and local policy, political, and legal contexts. The models in this book can also be tailored to different policy opportunities, such as stand-alone legislation, amendments, resolutions, executive actions, community petitions, and more.

Whether you are working to ensure responsible oversight or to strengthen longstanding safeguards, this Playbook offers tools to help you ensure transparency, fairness, and safety for all individuals seeking evidence-based health care in your community.

We welcome your partnership. If you have any questions about the model bills, need support tailoring policy to your state or locality, or want help shaping your strategy, please contact us at info@upcplaybook.org. We value your leadership and are always excited to support your efforts.