142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

307854
Strategies to Improve Access to LARC: Focus on Advocacy for Appropriate Reimbursement

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Alicia Luchowski, MPH , American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC
Myra Batchelder, MPA , Independent Consultant, Brooklyn, NY
Expanding access to the most effective reversible contraceptive methods available, the contraceptive implant and intrauterine devices, also known as long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), has been offered as a strategy for reducing the continued high rate of unintended pregnancies in the U.S. Evidence shows that most women are eligible to use LARC methods, but high up-front costs for these devices in comparison to other reversible contraceptive methods has been one barrier to increased uptake. Under the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage rule, millions of women now have improved access to LARC methods. However, the continued high cost of these methods, combined with difficulties some providers have in receiving appropriate reimbursement for provision of these devices, can still result in barriers to LARC access. We explored these reimbursement barriers to LARC through a series of key informant interviews and a summit meeting of leaders in the field, gathered replicable strategies for improvement, and provided recommendations for continued advocacy to improve LARC access through appropriate reimbursement for services and supplies. Successful efforts in several states to improve Medicaid reimbursement policies for the provision of LARC methods immediately postpartum provide useful case studies of best practices in this type of public health advocacy.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
List current barriers to LARC uptake in the U.S. Identify strategies for improving appropriate reimbursement for LARC services and devices. Describe advocacy efforts in two states that have successfully improved access to LARC.

Keyword(s): Contraception, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have managed the work of the LARC Program at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for six years, focusing on educational and advocacy efforts to improve women's access to the full range of contraceptive methods available. A focus of my advocacy work with the LARC Program has been to research successful strategies and provide technical assistance to coalitions and clinicians working to improve appropriate reimbursement in the provision of LARC.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.