Family Planning
Maternal and Child Health Section

The Minnesota Family Planning Program (1115 Medicaid Family Planning Waiver)

In 2002, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) applied for an 1115 Family Planning Waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In late July of 2004, the waiver was approved. The program was implemented in July 2006. The program is known as the Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP).

Project Objectives

About half of all pregnancies in Minnesota are unintended. The primary goal of the 1115 waiver is to reduce unintended pregnancies. In addition, it will:

• Demonstrate positive public health outcomes and cost savings from an accessible, preventive approach to family planning services for a segment of the population that currently does not access family planning services.

• Reduce State and Federal maternity care expenditures by reducing the number of births resulting from unintended pregnancies.

The waiver program, now called the Minnesota Family Planning Program (MFPP), will reduce gaps in coverage and will increase the availability of pre-pregnancy family planning services. Family planning and child spacing promotes healthier pregnancy outcomes.

What is an 1115 waiver?

The Minnesota 1115 Waiver Demonstration Project is an expansion of access to family planning services through Medicaid. The waiver allows the state to operate outside of the normal Medicaid requirements – it is an expansion of an already existing program that allows people who wouldn’t ordinarily meet criteria for services to access family planning services only. The waiver is based on the idea that it costs less to publicly fund contraceptive services than it does to fund prenatal care, delivery costs, and infant care. It is beneficial to Minnesota because it allows more Minnesotans access to family planning services, and saves the amount of money the government spends on the consequences of unintended pregnancy.

Who Does the MFPP (1115 waiver) serve?

All Minnesota residents between 15 and 50 who have incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) are eligible.. Only legal residents of the United States are eligible for services. DHS reports that they served approximately 20,920 enrollees in fiscal year 2007.

How Does the MFPP (1115 Waiver) work?

Any qualified Medicaid provider or clinic can deliver services under the Waiver Demonstration Project. In addition, certified Family Planning Providers can determine presumptive eligibility at the time of appointment. Presumptive eligibility is valid for 30 days after the month the presumptive eligibility determination is made, allowing the individual to have 30 days to apply for continuing eligibility. DHS then makes the final determination of continuing eligibility. Coverage must be renewed annually and a notice of renewal is mailed to the enrollee.

What family planning services are available through MFPP?

The waiver covers any procedure, supply, or prescription that is FDA approved, and would be covered under regular Medicaid as a family planning service. This would include routine physical exams, surgical procedures, contraceptive supplies, and prescription and non-prescription contraceptives.

Contacts:

• Please direct questions about MFPP or eligibility inquiries to MFPP at: 651-431-3480 or 888-702-9968 (toll free) DHS.FAMILY-PLANNING@STATE.MN.US

• Please direct questions about Family Planning Special Projects (FPSP) grants to Gary Greenfield at the Minnesota Department of Health, 651-201-3743, or gary.greenfield@state.mn.us.

For more information go to the Minnesota Department of Human Services web page http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/familyplanning.

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