SB21-009 (Jaquez Lewis/Caraveo) Reproductive Health Program

Position

The Children’s Campaign strongly supports the bill. Creating a contraceptive Medicaid benefit to improve access to family planning services is critical for our immigrant community. It is well documented that due to systemic barriers, families that experience unintended pregnancies often have poorer health outcomes, struggle to complete school, and have difficulty advancing their careers. A Guttmacher study found that only half of immigrant women received contraceptive services or information in the previous year, compared to two-thirds of US-born women. This Medicaid program would expand access to family planning services beyond what is available through Title X clinics by removing geographic barriers to care.  

 There are parts of the state where people can live more than an hour’s drive from the nearest clinic that participates in the family planning program. In fact, more than 300,000 Colorado women live in contraceptive deserts. Further, reducing barriers to additional months of contraception at one time is evidence-based policy to reduce unintended pregnancies. Data from randomized controlled trials and cohort studies show that providing access to additional months of contraceptive coverage is associated with increased continuation of use, fewer pregnancies and abortions, and lower costs.