No more free birth control in California

Published

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

On Wednesday a student who is working in women's health for our community nursing announced that Family Pact is being cut...all together (the teal card). I understand that they have to make cuts with our horrible economy, but this seems like a terrible decision...what, expect teens to abstain? All I can see coming from this is more abortions resulting from the unavailability to birth control...and abortions are more expensive than the pill!!! Has anyone else heard of this? I tried to do an Internet search of it, but I guess the word is not out yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Chalk it up to my conservative Christian upbringing, but it seems to me that anyone who can't afford to purchase their own birth control ought to mapquest Planned Parenthood or not be having sex. Taxpayers should not be paying for contraception for recreational sex.

I also think it is wrong to assume that teens are incapable of controlling their impulses. They may choose not to abstain, in which case, they are responsible for the consequences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
On Wednesday a student who is working in women's health for our community nursing announced that Family Pact is being cut...all together (the teal card).

Did s/he provide a citation? The Medi-Cal and Family Pact sites have nothing to this effect. The Family Pact bulletins include September '08 CPT code updates and formulary updates, so that would seem odd for a program that is being dissolved.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Chalk it up to my conservative Christian upbringing, but it seems to me that anyone who can't afford to purchase their own birth control ought to mapquest Planned Parenthood or not be having sex. Taxpayers should not be paying for contraception for recreational sex.

I also think it is wrong to assume that teens are incapable of controlling their impulses. They may choose not to abstain, in which case, they are responsible for the consequences.

I agree that tax payers should not have to pay for those that can not afford birth control, there are a lot of things tax payers have to pay for that do not see fair (try keeping a straight face when a person on Medi-Cal comes in for a Rx for cough syrup because if an MD writes it they can get it for free at the pharmacy, but they come in smelling like a $5 pack of cigarettes). I was also raised in a conservative Christian home, but I also believe in preventive health care and believe that preventing an abortion is more cost effective, and I am not a big fan of abortion in the first place. I do not want to make assumptions, but it would seem that those who can not afford their birth control pills would also not be able to afford an abortion (lets not turn this into choice or life debate). And teens are not the only ones that use the PACT card, lack of birth control is not going to stop people from having sex...right or wrong.

In reply to apgar, I suppose the September '08 CPT code updates and formulary updates came out before this announcement was made; she talked about it as though it was very recent information. I will try to remember to ask her more about it on Monday.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
In reply to apgar, I suppose the September '08 CPT code updates and formulary updates came out before this announcement was made; she talked about it as though it was very recent information. I will try to remember to ask her more about it on Monday.

Sure it's possible the announcement came after but discontinuation of the program would certainly be found somewhere on the site or at least the application for new providers would have been removed ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On Wednesday a student who is working in women's health for our community nursing announced that Family Pact is being cut...all together (the teal card). I understand that they have to make cuts with our horrible economy, but this seems like a terrible decision...what, expect teens to abstain? All I can see coming from this is more abortions resulting from the unavailability to birth control...and abortions are more expensive than the pill!!! Has anyone else heard of this? I tried to do an Internet search of it, but I guess the word is not out yet.

I'm sure the legislators whould be glad to take your donation to restart the program, just convince others to give enough money and I'm sure they be willing to restart it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yeah. with out economy right now, i think they have to cut something. either the budget or the employees.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As far as I know, the Family Pact program has not been cut. We use it everyday at the clinic I work at and have not been given any notice that the program is not going to be around anymore.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On Wednesday a student who is working in women's health for our community nursing announced that Family Pact is being cut...all together (the teal card). I understand that they have to make cuts with our horrible economy, but this seems like a terrible decision...what, expect teens to abstain? All I can see coming from this is more abortions resulting from the unavailability to birth control...and abortions are more expensive than the pill!!! Has anyone else heard of this? I tried to do an Internet search of it, but I guess the word is not out yet.

I can think of a couple of things worse than an abortion...

1. Dumpster babies

2. Keeping babies that these teens don't want and the babies suffering the consequences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Chalk it up to my conservative Christian upbringing, but it seems to me that anyone who can't afford to purchase their own birth control ought to mapquest Planned Parenthood or not be having sex. Taxpayers should not be paying for contraception for recreational sex.

I also think it is wrong to assume that teens are incapable of controlling their impulses. They may choose not to abstain, in which case, they are responsible for the consequences.

I know this is old, but I find this terribly unfortunate. I am a Christian and I do not feel is my place to judge others, only God can do that. I also realize that, as a Christian, I need to care about my fellow human beings & remain open-hearted.

While I can understand your point of view, I guess I am different. I know too many teens who have suffered severe emotional distress after an abortion. They don't have schools or parents that have educated them on sex and they cannot be told "keep your legs closed/pants zipped". Sexual desire is part of human nature. I'm not too far out from being a teenager and I can remember my hormones were just raging out of control. Luckily, my mother tried to educate me.

I also know teenagers who have had their babies. Around 9/10 of them are on welfare and NEVER go on to further themselves. I have seen straight A students that this has happened to. I don't want to say a baby is anything less than a blessing, but there are very real issues at hand. A baby is the least of all of our concerns. Think HIV, herpes, etc.

I wouldn't mind birth control and sex education coming out of my pocket. When you think about it...it's good for the economy and our country. Knowledge is power. And birth control is a small price to pay for the domino effect of unprotected sex. I wish everyone was responsible too...but I have to be open-minded. This is why I hope to open my own clinic one day. Hopefully I can offer a lot to my community.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
I know this is old, but I find this terribly unfortunate. I am a Christian and I do not feel is my place to judge others, only God can do that. I also realize that, as a Christian, I need to care about my fellow human beings & remain open-hearted.

While I can understand your point of view, I guess I am different. I know too many teens who have suffered severe emotional distress after an abortion. They don't have schools or parents that have educated them on sex and they cannot be told "keep your legs closed/pants zipped". Sexual desire is part of human nature. I'm not too far out from being a teenager and I can remember my hormones were just raging out of control. Luckily, my mother tried to educate me.

I also know teenagers who have had their babies. Around 9/10 of them are on welfare and NEVER go on to further themselves. I have seen straight A students that this has happened to. I don't want to say a baby is anything less than a blessing, but there are very real issues at hand. A baby is the least of all of our concerns. Think HIV, herpes, etc.

I wouldn't mind birth control and sex education coming out of my pocket. When you think about it...it's good for the economy and our country. Knowledge is power. And birth control is a small price to pay for the domino effect of unprotected sex. I wish everyone was responsible too...but I have to be open-minded. This is why I hope to open my own clinic one day. Hopefully I can offer a lot to my community.

There is a problem when the government does not want to pay for birth control pills but Medi-Care still pays for Viagra. The old elephants and donkeys sure make she they get theirs and leave the prevention up to the women without any help

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There is a problem when the government does not want to pay for birth control pills but Medi-Care still pays for Viagra. The old elephants and donkeys sure make she they get theirs and leave the prevention up to the women without any help

I know! It's really quite sad and depressing that we still have to draw attention to/fight for proper care in a day and age like this. This is why I really want to get into Women's Health.....somewhere along the lines of being able to do a little bit of everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion