The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38876

Pat Paluzzi, CNM, DrPH, Baltimore City Health Department and Morgan State University, 2100 Erdman Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218, 410.396.0055, pat.paluzzi@verizon.net and Ani Hyslop, MD MPH, CDC, 1515 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217.

Welfare reform has brought about many changes to the health care system including changes in access to family planning. Some managed care companies do not provide birth control methods or may only support one annual visit per year. Many women find themselves unable to obtain all of their needed services within this system. Some are choosing to supplement their care at Title X funded family planning clinics. Changes in who is using one such urban center as well as the types of services they are using was ascertained through an extensive review of randomly selected charts pre- and post-welfare reform. Analysis of the chart audits demonstrates changes in use of services and poses questions regarding possible broader implications resulting from this change. This may be particularly pertinent in the face of never expanding Title X budgets.

Learning Objectives: After the presentation, particpants will be able to

1)identify changes in client demographics utilizing the Title X family planning services; 2)describe the differences in types of services sought at the clinic, and
• list some of the potential effects on policy and programming from these changes.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.