STATEMENT ON CMS CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Last week, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new guidanceon Medicaid Family Planning Services and Supplies. The informational bulletin reminds states of their obligations under federal law pertaining to Medicaid coverage of family planning services and supplies, as well as best practices to increase access to contraception.

Importantly, the guidance reiterates that:

• Enrollees must be allowed to obtain family planning supplies and services from any qualified provider of their choosing who participates in Medicaid;
• Enrollees must be free to choose their method of family planning, without coercion - including protections for obtaining and removing long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods - without cost-sharing; and
• States must adhere to confidentiality, privacy, and security protections for applicants and enrollees, including for those seeking family planning services.

The guidance also encourages states to utilize best practices to increase access to over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives.

In response to CMS' guidance, Power to Decide CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, issued the following statement:

"As a practicing OB-GYN, I know finding a birth control method that works can be a journey. All people, regardless of income, deserve the ability to see the provider of their choice and access high-quality contraceptive care so they can find the method that works for them and have the power to decide, if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant.

"We are grateful to CMS for their continued commitment to ensuring Medicaid and CHIP enrollees can access the contraceptive care they need from the providers that they trust. We are also glad to see CMS encouraging states to reduce barriers to OTC contraceptives. This can increase meaningful access to the first FDA-approved OTC birth control pill which became available for sale in stores this year.

"At Power to Decide, we remain committed to ensuring that everyone has the information they need to make informed decisions about their contraceptive journey. Bedsider's Method Explorer can help individuals learn about birth control options and find a method that works for their life."

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Power to Decideis a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all by providing trusted information, expanding access to quality services, and catalyzing culture change.<_o3a_p>

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