141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290396
Impact of comprehensive family planning programs in a primary health care system on cost savings and population health

Monday, November 4, 2013

Kelly Warner, MPH , Family Planning Department, Cambridge Health Alliance, Somerville, MA
With rising health care costs and the introduction of the Accountable Care Act, the future holds many unknowns for the health care system. Much research shows that there are more effective ways of patient care through a variety of means; however, there is little research showing that the integration of Family Planning Community Health Workers (FP CHWs) reduces costs and supports quicker access to health care, thus improving population health. The integration of family planning programs into a primary care system allows for lower costs of care, increased revenue to the system, and improved reproductive health outcomes. FP CHWs provide low cost base level care, allowing providers to see more patients and to practice at the top of their license. With FP CHWs, patients are able to access immediate appointments and are not required to have health insurance, thus clients are treated quickly, referred for insurance enrollment, and as a result return for continued care. With the support of FP CHWs, communities will see reduced rates of unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and bettering health trends for adolescents. By reducing costs, increasing patient numbers, and providing preventive care, incorporating FP CHWs is an essential part to the success of the primary care system, both for patients and for population health.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Define three ways that the integration of family planning community health workers into a primary care system increases revenue and reduces costs. Describe three ways that family planning programs support population health. Identify how to incorporate a family planning program into a primary care system

Keywords: Family Planning, Primary Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Director of Family Planning and Adolescent Community Services at Cambridge Health Alliance. I manage 14 staff who work in four high schools, 13 health centers, and five communities under federal, state, and community grants providing clinical services, educational workshops and youth development programs. I have a Master’s of Public Health in Community Health Education from the University of Maryland, College Park and have worked in sexuality education for 10 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.