Iowa Family Planning Demonstration Evaluation Third Waiver Period

Family Planning Demonstration

The State of Iowa extended the 1115 Family Planning Demonstration through December, 2016. The waiver provides family planning services to men and women 12–54 years of age with income not exceeding 300% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) for the family size. The extension contains the objectives listed below.

1. Improve the access to and use of Medicaid family planning services by women who have received a Medicaid pregnancy related service.
2. Improve birth outcomes and the health of women by increasing the child spacing interval among women in the target population.
3. Decrease the number of Medicaid-paid deliveries, which will reduce annual expenditures for prenatal, delivery newborn, and infant care.
4. Reduce the number of unintended and unwanted pregnancies among women eligible for Medicaid.
5. Reduce teen pregnancy by reducing the number of repeat teen births.
6. Estimate the overall savings in Medicaid spending attributable to providing family planning services to women for 2 years postpartum. 

The 1115 Family Planning Demonstration “Iowa Family Planning Network” began in February 1, 2006. This report indicates the following successes.

1. The demonstration has increased the number of women receiving family planning services within the Medicaid program. Over 65,000 women have accessed family planning services through this demonstration. However, the number of women served annually through the FPD has fallen since the beginning of the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, Iowa’s expanded coverage option.
2. Reductions in Medicaid costs for deliveries and birth and first year of life are over $250 million.
3. Net Medicaid savings are over $200 million from this demonstration.