If the clinic closes, patients will have to drive for hours to one of the next nearest clinics. (Courtesy Creative Commons)

The law requires abortion providers to be an OB-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. Such privileges can be difficult to obtain, particularly as both doctors at the state's last remaining clinic commute from other states.

Critics have said the law will force women to either travel hours over the state line to obtain a federally-protected procedure or to carry an unhealthy or unwanted pregnancy to term. From Jackson, it's about a 200-miles to clinics in New Orleans, Mobile or Memphis. Travel expenses may pose a major obstacle to women in one of the poorest states in the nation.

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said on his website the new abortion law "not only protects the health of the mother but should close the only abortion clinic in Mississippi."

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant has frequently said he wants Mississippi to be "abortion-free." 

The clinic has filed a federal lawsuit to fight the law.

Follow Neon Tommy's coverage of abortion.

Reach Executive Producer Dawn Megli here; follow her on Twitter here.