308681
Examining the Effectiveness of Medicaid Family Planning Expansion in Connecticut
Background: Medicaid family planning expansion programs have been shown to reduce unintended pregnancies. Connecticut implemented Medicaid Family Planning Expansion in March of 2012 with the intention of expanding access to family planning services and improving reproductive health outcomes.
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Medicaid Family Planning Expansion in reducing unintended pregnancies and estimate the state funds saved in CT due to the expansion.
Methods: Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE), which serves 90% of all Medicaid Family Planning Expansion participants in CT, will provide data for contraceptive use following the expansion. Additional sociodemographic indicators will be obtained related to births among Medicaid recipients. Statistical models developed by the Guttmacher Institute will be adapted to estimate the number of pregnancies averted in the state based on patterns of contraceptive use in participants after enrolling in the program and contraceptive failure rates. The number of pregnancies averted will be used to determine the state funds saved by reducing pregnancies that would have resulted in births covered by Medicaid.
Results: The effectiveness of the Medicaid Family Planning Expansion program in meeting the goals of reducing unintended pregnancies and saving state funds will be determined. The results will ideally be used to inform future legislation.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policyLearning Objectives:
Assess the effectiveness of CT’s Medicaid Family Planning Expansion program in reducing unintended pregnancies. Describe the estimated savings in state funds by the program’s reduction in unintended pregnancies.
Keyword(s): Medicaid, Family Planning
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MPH candidate and part of the group that developed the analysis plan for this project. I also helped carry out the data analysis. My scientific interests include sexual and reproductive health and program development. This project allowed me to further pursue these interests.
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.