Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) administration announced the change Monday with hopes that increased used of long-term birth control like intrauterine devices will curb unintended pregnancy in Medicaid-eligible women, ultimately reducing costs.
Medicaid agencies and most commercial health plans traditionally cover all labor and delivery costs — including long-term contraceptive implants — with a bundled payment. Because the payment does not always cover the full price associated with long-term birth control, hospitals can choose to not provide the service immediately following birth, according to the report.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas said in a prepared statement to The Inquirer the “policy change should help to increase usage by 6 percent and help to prevent unintended pregnancies — saving millions of dollars.”
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