Budget Bill Provision Dropping Requirement For Family Planning Medicaid Coverage Could Increase Unplanned Pregnancies, Sen. Rodham Clinton Says

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) on Tuesday said the House-approved fiscal year 2006 spending-cut package (S 1932) could increase the number of unplanned pregnancies because it would allow states to discontinue Medicaid coverage of contraception and family planning services, Long Island Newsday reports (Thrush, Long Island Newsday, 12/21). The House on Monday voted 212-206 to approve the $39.7 billion in spending cuts, including $6.4 billion in net savings from Medicare and about $4.8 billion in net savings from Medicaid over five years. States also would be permitted to scale back or eliminate services that currently are guaranteed under federal law (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/20). Under current federal Medicaid rules, states are required to offer family planning services (Barrett, AP/Long Island Newsday, 12/20). However, states could "scuttle" those services under the new measure, according to Newsday. "I think this bill may very well increase the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in our country," Rodham Clinton said (Long Island Newsday, 12/21). She added, "We obviously have very strong opinions and deeply held convictions about abortion, but are we also divided about contraception and family planning? Are we not in this body committed to reducing the number of abortions? Apparently we're not" (AP/Long Island Newsday, 12/20). Republican congressional leaders say the bill aims to give states more flexibility in administering their Medicaid programs, and some experts say states are unlikely to halt family planning and contraception coverage, in part because the federal government pays for 90% of the costs, Newsday reports (Long Island Newsday, 12/21). According to an unnamed staff member for a Senate Republican, state Medicaid plans under the measure would still have to remain equivalent to plans such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or state employee insurance plans, most of which cover family planning services and contraception, CQ HealthBeat reports. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Wednesday (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 12/20).


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