Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Program
Item 302 #2c
Item 302 #2c | First Year - FY2021 | Second Year - FY2022 | |
| Health and Human Resources |
| Department of Health | FY2021 ($2,000,000) | FY2022 ($2,000,000) | NGF |
Language
Page 285, line 18, strike "$289,713,047" and insert "$287,713,047".
Page 285, line 18, strike "$291,021,732" and insert "$289,021,732".
Page 285, after line 38, insert:
"1. Out of this appropriation, $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided for the purpose of expanding access to hormonal long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) that delay or prevent ovulation. The Virginia Department of Health shall establish and manage memorandums of understanding with qualified health care providers who will provide access to LARCs to patients whose income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, the Title X family planning program income eligibility requirement. Providers shall be reimbursed for the insertion and removal of LARCs at Medicaid rates. As part of the pilot program, the department, in cooperation with the Department of Medical Assistance Services and stakeholders, shall develop a plan to improve awareness and utilization of the Plan First program and include outreach efforts to refer women who have a diagnosis of substance use disorder and who seek family planning services to the Plan First program or participating providers in the pilot program.
2. The Virginia Department of Health shall report on metrics to measure the effectiveness of the program such as impacts on morbidity, reduction in abortions and unplanned pregnancies, and impacts on maternal health such as an increase in the length of time between births, among others. In addition, the department shall collect data on the number of women served who also sought treatment for substance use disorder. The department shall submit a report to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget, that describes the program, and metrics used to measure results, actual program expenditures, and projected expenditures by September 1 of each year.
3. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be made available to supplement the funding provided under paragraph 1. of this Item to expand access to FDA-approved contraceptives, that are not long acting reversible contraceptives. The Virginia Department of Health shall establish and manage memoranda of understanding with qualified health care providers who have existing contracts pursuant to paragraph 1. of this Item or to new ones if funding is available. Providers shall be reimbursed for the cost of the contraceptives, as provided under this paragraph, at Medicaid rates."
Explanation
(This amendment restores language that was inadvertently excluded from the introduced budget related to the Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) pilot program, as included in the 2018 Appropriation Act. This language modifies the existing program to clarify that it is no longer a pilot program and, in addition, it provides $1.0 million a year from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant to supplement the LARC program by allowing access to other forms of contraception. The introduced budget also included an additional $2.0 million nongeneral fund for the program, bringing the total amount appropriated to $5.0 million. However, the total funding level required for the program is only $3.0 million and therefore this amendment removes $2.0 million in excess appropriation.)