FACT SHEET

Family Planning Funding in the State Budget

Background

In his 2008-09 proposed budget, Governor Doyle allocated state funds for family planning services in Wisconsin. Approximately 300,500 low-income women in Wisconsin need access to publicly-funded family planning services. Only about one-half of these women are receiving these services because of unavailability.

Access to Family Planning Services Keeps Women and Families Healthy

Wisconsin's family planning clinics provide cervical cancer tests, breast exams, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, access to birth control and other preventative health services.

It is estimated that Wisconsin's family planning clinics avert 21,700 unintended pregnancies and 10,850 abortions each year (The Guttmacher Institute).

According to the Center for Disease Control, family planning was one of the top TEN public health achievements of the 20th Century.

Family planning programs reduce the transmission of STIs, promote early detection of breast and cervical cancer and increase the likelihood that women receive prenatal care and experience healthy pregnancies.

Supporting Family Planning is Cost-Effective

Family planning is cost effective. Each dollar spent on family planning services saves an estimated $3.80 that would otherwise be spent in Medicaid costs for pregnancy-related care and newborn medical care. (The Guttmacher Institute, 2006).

The Federal Government assumes 90% of all Medicaid Family Planning costs, with the state assuming only 10%, and provides other matching grants to encourage state support of family planning:

- In exchange for the state spending approximately $9 million for family planning services under Medicaid as proposed in Governor Doyle's 2008-2009 budget, the state is expected to receive over $59 million in federal dollars in 2008 and 2009;

- The state will receive a federal matching grant of almost $3.5 million for family planning expenditures made through the Wisconsin Department of Public Health in Governor Doyle's proposed 2008-2009 budget.

Efforts to Gut Family Planning Services are Fiscally Irresponsible and Compromise Women's Health

Last session, several bills were introduced to eliminate public funding for more than 80 publicly funded family planning clinics in Wisconsin.

The Family Planning Ban (2005 SB 72/AB 142 Leibham/Suder), eliminated funding by prohibiting family planning providers from complying with federal and state informed consent law by telling women all of their pregnancy options.

Attacks on the successful Healthy Women Program (Medicaid Family Planning Waiver) would cost Wisconsin millions of dollars in federal funds and cost savings:

- Wisconsin is expected to receive over $36 million federal dollars received under this program from the federal government (which pays 90% of the costs) in 2008-2009.

- This program saves the state approximately $13.2 million each year by preventing unintended pregnancies. The cost of providing family planning services under the Waiver is $172 per patients compared to $7,132 in birth and delivery costs per each Medicaid enrollee.

- As of 12/05, over 64,000 women have been enrolled in this program. Without this program, Wisconsin's current system of family planning providers cannot meet the need for these services.

- Approximately 10,980 Wisconsin teens give birth each year and 85% of these births are paid for by Wisconsin taxpayers. Conservative estimates suggest that the FPW will reduce the Wisconsin teen pregnancy rate by at least 15%.

This information was compiled by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.  For more information about legislation related to reproductive health, or to join our action alert network, log onto http://www.ppawi.org