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Mainstreaming contraceptive services in managed care--five states' experiences
R B Gold1, J E Darroch, J J Frost
1The Alan Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY 10005, USA.
Family Planning Perspectives
|October 22, 1998
Summary
Managed care plans often fail to adequately cover contraceptive services, leading to difficulties for women seeking care. Employers and managed care organizations must improve coverage and accessibility of reproductive health services.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Health Services Research
- Health Policy
Background:
- The healthcare landscape is shifting towards managed care, impacting access to essential services.
- Contraceptive services are particularly affected by this transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the coverage and accessibility of contraceptive services within managed care plans.
- To understand women's experiences obtaining contraceptive care in managed care environments.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed managed care organizations (MCOs) and publicly funded family planning agencies in five mature managed care markets.
- Interviewed women enrolled in managed care plans regarding their contraceptive coverage and access.
Main Results:
- 15% of MCOs did not cover all common contraceptive methods; 6% covered none.
- Many women were unaware of their plan's contraceptive coverage.
- Nearly one-third of women reported difficulties accessing contraceptive services, with long wait times for appointments.
Conclusions:
- Employers must ensure health plans offer comprehensive contraceptive coverage.
- MCOs and state Medicaid programs need to improve policies for accessible contraceptive care.