MAKING MEDICAID MANAGED CARE WORK FOR FAMILY PLANNING COVERAGE AND SERVICES

MAKING MEDICAID MANAGED CARE WORK FOR
FAMILY PLANNING COVERAGE AND SERVICES
 
Addressing Current Gaps Will Strengthen
Services for Millions of Americans

New federal rules currently under development for Medicaid health plans run by private-sector managed care organizations (MCOs) could significantly improve enrollees’ health coverage and care, including provision of family planning services. A new analysis in the Guttmacher Policy Review argues that to achieve this goal, Medicaid’s protections for enrollees should be strengthened, monitored and enforced in several important areas: coverage and cost-sharing, confidentiality, choice of providers, and access to information and care. 
 
Medicaid is the joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to almost 70 million low-income Americans. The program increasingly relies on private-sector MCOs to administer coverage, a trend that has accelerated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
 
“Family planning is a small part of Medicaid, but Medicaid is central to publicly funded family planning,” says Adam Sonfield, author of the new analysis. “That is why enhancing patient protections under Medicaid managed care matters so much. By addressing current gaps, the Obama administration would strengthen this vital program on which millions of women and couples rely for family planning services.”

-snip- 

“It is essential that any new rules get these protections right for Medicaid enrollees and the safety-net providers who serve them,” says Sonfield. “And it is equally important that enrollees know about these protections, and that states and plans comply with them. Efforts to improve Medicaid must pay attention to the details that could meaningfully improve the provision of family planning care for millions of Americans.”
 
Full analysis: “Making Medicaid Managed Care Work for Family Planning Coverage and Services,” by Adam Sonfield
http://guttmacher.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=04f2e51548&e=d208298ba7

 
For more information:
 
National fact sheet: Publicly Funded Family Planning Services in the United States
http://guttmacher.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=eeaf6ca04f&e=d208298ba7

State fact sheets:  Facts on Publicly Funded Family Planning Services
http://guttmacher.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=27aac9aad1&e=d208298ba7

Report: Moving Forward: Family Planning in the Era of Health Reform
http://guttmacher.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=aac2169c39&e=d208298ba7

More:
http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=e87345b266&e=d208298ba7



The Guttmacher Institute works to advance sexual and reproductive health in the United States and worldwide through an interrelated program of social science research, policy analysis and public education designed to generate new ideas, encourage enlightened public debate and promote sound policy and program development. Learn more at Guttmacher.org.
http://guttmacher.us8.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ca1e42e28a45edcdc4e51bc32&id=18173f62b5&e=d208298ba7