Plan f irst

Plan firstA Family Planning

Program

Unintended Pregnancies In Alabama

Did Not Want13.4%

Then37.3%

Later34.0%

Sooner15.3%

10.3

33.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Pe

rce

nt

Intended Unintended

Percent Using Birth Control at Conception by Intendedness

33.8

66.466.2

33.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Medicaid Non-Medicaid

Pe

rce

nt

Intended Unintended

Intendedness of Births by Method of Payment

– Prior to Plan first, only three groups of women qualified for family planning services under the Medicaid program:

– MLIF– SSI– SOBRA

Doesn't Medicaid Pay for Family Planning Services?

Access: the problem of access to family planning services by the population in need.

Knowledge: inadequate knowledge regarding contraception, family planning and reproductive health.

Two Major Issues Have Been Identified:

What is Plan first?

A Federally approved Research and Demonstration Waiver for Family Planning services.

A collaboration between the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Provides the expansion of Medicaid coverage for Family Planning Services.

The Purpose of Plan firstTo increase the availability of family planning services to many women of childbearing age, between 19 to 44 years of age, up to and including 133% of the federal poverty level, who would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid.

The primary goal of Plan first is to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies

The Primary Goal of Plan first

Objectivesto decrease the number of unintended pregnancies among low-income women in Alabama.

to improve access to high quality family planning services for low-income women.

to decrease Medicaid costs as a result of unintended pregnancies.

Objectives

to have effective outreach programs to increase awareness and the need for family planning services.

to utilize care coordination to assist women in choosing a family planning method and as a means for consistently and correctly using their chosen method.

to ensure that education regarding family planning methods is communicated in a meaningful and clear way.

Who is Eligible for Plan first ?

Must live in Alabama Be a U.S. citizen or be in this country legally

Be a woman between the ages of 19 to 44 years of age

Have not had surgery to prevent pregnancy

Have a household income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level

Who Automatically Qualifies for Plan first ?

Women age 19 through 44 who have SOBRA eligible children (incomes at or above 133% FPL) already receiving Medicaid, will automatically become eligible for family planning without a separate eligibility determination.

SOBRA eligible pregnant women ages 19 through 44 will be automatically eligible for family planning services at the expiration of their 60 days postpartum.

Women 19 through 44 whose children are SOBRA eligible but are not currently enrolled in the Medicaid program, will need to complete an application. Only one application will need to be completed for the children and the woman applying for Plan first. Women age 19 through 44, who are not pregnant, postpartum or who do not have children will need to complete an application.

Who will Need to Complete an Application?

Where can I Get an Application?

Applications are available for potential clients from:

Alabama Medicaid AgencyAlabama Department of Public HealthCounty health departmentsProviders of services to pregnant womenFamily planning providersOutstationed Medicaid workers

Will There be an Annual Re-certification ?

Re-certification will be done annually for those women who have children receiving SOBRA Medicaid. The re-certification will be done at the time of the annual review of their children.

Annual re-certifications are not required for the women who do not have children.

What Benefits Does a Plan first Client Receive ?Yearly family planning exam which includes a pap smear and a breast exam.Lab work such as testing for pregnancy and STDs.Some types of birth control such as pills, shots and IUDs.Tubal ligations for women 21 years of age and over.Care and support from a nurse or social worker.Help in planning when to have a baby.

What is Different About Plan first Coverage?Oral contraceptives are issued by the family planning provider at the time of the visit.

Care Coordination for women considered at high risk for an unintended pregnancy.

The implementation of this project will offer family planning services to an expanded population of 111,000.

Who Provides Plan first Services ?

ClinicsCounty Health DepartmentsPrivate PhysiciansNurse MidwivesNurse Practitioners Physician Assistants

Call the Plan first TOLL- FREE HOTLINE at 1-888-737-2083 or Contact your local county health department for a list of providers in your area

How to Locate Plan first Providers in Your Community?

What are the Benefits of Family Planning?

Mothers and babies have a better chance of being healthy.Parents can provide for their family both financially and emotionally.Children get more time and attention.

For Additional Information– Contact your local county health

department or

– Call the TOLL-FREE HOTLINE 1-888-737-2083

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.