What Can I Expect?
- Birth Control for men and women
- Physical exam
- Pap smear, STD and other lab tests,
as needed
- Education, counseling and referral
- Fees charged according to income
- Donations are welcome
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What's an Interview and Medical
History?
You will talk to a nurse and
answer questions about your reproductive health.
We will also ask about your family's health and if you
take any medicines. You can ask any questions you may have.
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What Counseling Can I Expect?
We want you to decide what
family planning choices are best for you. The counselor can answer
questions about birth control and your physical exam, sexual infections
and lab tests.
The counselor may also bring up other ideas about auto
safety, children, smoking, eating habits, exercise and stress.
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What Education Will I Get?
The nurse may show you films,
charts, videos or models. You will learn about your body and about all the
choices for planning pregnancies.
You will learn how different birth control methods work,
their side effects, benefits and risks. You will also learn your duties as
a consumer and how to use the birth control you choose.
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What Lab Tests Will be Done?
You may be asked for a urine
sample to test for sugar, protein and infection. You may have blood drawn
to test for anemia and certain diseases.
If you think you may be pregnant, please ask for a
pregnancy test.
You may also be checked for cancer, or infections such
as herpes, warts, chlamydia or gonorrhea.
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What Kind of Physical Exam Will I
Have?
All clients get a general
checkup of heart, lungs, blood pressure, thyroid and abdomen. Tell the
examiner if you're having any special problems.
Men will have their penis and testes checked. They will be shown how to check their own body for
cancer of the testes. (May not be available at all clinics.)
Women will have an exam of their vagina, a
pelvic exam, and may have a pap test . They will be shown how to check their
breasts for lumps.
A clinician will examine you and order your method of
birth control.
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What Happens Next?
After your checkup you can ask
questions. You may get written directions for your choice of birth
control method. We will make sure you understand how to use your method and a
"backup" method. You will get instructions or medicine for
infections.
We will tell you the complications or side effects of
your birth control method. You will be asked to sign consent forms.
You may be referred to another doctor if any part of
your exam is not normal. Such extra care will be at your own expense.
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When Will I Get My Birth Control
Method?
In most cases your birth control method will
be supplied to you right away. In a few clinics you may have to go to
another site for medicine or supplies.
You may get 3 to 12 months' supply at one time.
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When Do I Need to Return?
You may need to return soon for
follow-up treatment or checkups. Otherwise you can plan to return to clinic
in one year.
You are always welcome to call for an
appointment sooner if you have a problem or want to change methods.
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How Much Will It Cost?
The Family Planning program
receives money from State and Federal funds. Because of this you pay
according to your income and family size.
You will be asked to bring a tax form, check stub, note from your
employer or other written proof of family income.
We are glad to accept donations to the program. This
money will be used to provide services for low-income clients.
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Who Can Come to Family Planning
Clinics?
Any man or woman may
request services. New Mexico state law allows minors to receive these
services without parent's permission.
Confidentiality: Every
clinic must
assure client confidentiality and provide safeguards for individuals against
the invasion of personal privacy, as required by the Privacy Act. No
information obtained by the clinic staff about individuals receiving
services may be disclosed without the individual's written consent,
except as required by law or as necessary to provide services to the
individual, with appropriate safeguards for confidentiality. Information
may otherwise be disclosed only in summary, statistical, or other form that
does not identify the individual.
You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to
get clinic services.
If you have Medicaid, we accept it as
full payment.
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How Do I Get in Touch with the Family
Planning Program?
There is a clinic in almost every
county in New Mexico. For the exact location contact your closest
Public Health Office.
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What is the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver?
The state of New Mexico requested a section 1115(a) Waiver to
extend Medicaid eligibility for family planning services to all women of
childbearing age with income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty
level. The provision of family planning services for post-partum women and other
women of childbearing age is expected to reduce the number of low birth weight
infants, premature deliveries, and infant or maternal deaths attributed to
unintended, mistimed and/or closely spaced pregnancies among women whose poverty
status reduces their access to health services. Reducing unintended pregnancies
and improving birth spacing will decrease the overall number of births supported
by Medicaid funding.
In 1993, the New Mexico legislature approved the Human Services
Department's request to extend Medicaid coverage for "basic" family
planning services to women on a statewide basis. The Family Planning waiver
started out as a 5-year demonstration project, which extends Medicaid
eligibility for family planning services to women aged 19 and above who have
income at or below 185% of the Federal poverty level.
The objectives for the 1115 waiver are:
-
Decrease the number of women at risk for unintended
pregnancy.
-
Decrease the number of inadequately spaced pregnancies among
women in the target population.
-
Increase the number of women of childbearing age throughout
the state who have access to and utilize family planning services.
-
Increase the number of women who use family planning methods
most appropriate to their individual childbearing goals.
-
Increase the awareness of expanded Medicaid eligibility for
family planning services to medical providers, current Medicaid recipients,
women of childbearing age, staff at the Human Services Department, and the
Department of Health, and other appropriate community organizations.
Non-covered Services
Women who are eligible to receive Medicaid for family planning
services are eligible for up to two years, regardless of changes in income or
resources. When the two-year eligibility is over, women can reapply for Medicaid
Family Planning services again.
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NM Department of Health Family Planning Program
