LIAP gave out six grants in April 2008 to state and local groups that are implementing programs that work to expand access to birth control for low-income women.

Colorado
NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado used the funding to support their Birth Control and Emergency Contraception Access Project. They conducted a survey of all pharmacies and over 350 clinics throughout Colorado to research their policies and practices regarding the dispensing and sales of emergency contraception (EC) and other forms of birth control, with a specific look at Medicaid coverage of EC. They created a detailed final report, as well as a user-friendly report and brochure for distribution documenting their findings. They also used their findings to create a searchable online database of EC providers in the state. After successfully completing the requisite research, they said they now have a greater understanding of the barriers Colorado women face in accessing birth control. They compiled detailed recommendations to help address these barriers and plan to move forward with advocating for policy reforms over the next year.

Massachusetts
Ibis Reproductive Health and the Massachusetts Department of Family Planning used the funding for a joint research project that explored the impact of Massachusetts health care reform on low-income women’s access to contraception. In 2006, Massachusetts became the first state to pass legislation mandating that all residents have health insurance. As of July 2007, all state residents were required to be enrolled in a health insurance plan, and low-income residents were able to enroll in government-subsidized plans, which include family planning as a benefit. In their research project, the grantees examined whether health care reform is improving access to contraception for low-income women and identified barriers created by the reform. To do this, they conducted in-depth interviews with family planning providers and low-income women, self-administered surveys with agency administrative staff, and focus group discussions with low-income women throughout the state. In addition, they undertook a desk-review of the new insurance plans, specifically focusing on contraceptive coverage. They presented their findings across the state and throughout the country, and plan to release a final report in Fall 2009. The findings from their research are being used to improve access to contraception in Massachusetts, as well as to inform other state and federal efforts to expand health care coverage.

New Mexico
Southwest Women’s Law Center used the funding to maintain and coordinate advocacy at the state level to ensure coverage of EC without a prescription in the State Medicaid program. Due to their efforts, in August 2009 the New Mexico State Medicaid program officially began covering EC over-the-counter without a prescription. In addition, the grantee also worked to identify and plan advocacy strategies to eliminate other barriers in the State Medicaid program that block low-income women’s access to contraceptive services, including improving the state family planning waiver.

New York
Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) used the funding to integrate reproductive health care into free clinics, including their initial model of the Women’s Reproductive Health Free Clinic in New York City. The Women’s Reproductive Health Free Clinic in New York is a pilot project which opened in early 2008. The clinic provides free access to reproductive health services, including contraceptive services and abortion, and is staffed by first- and second-year medical students and family medicine residents. The model’s impact is threefold: it provides free reproductive heath care for uninsured women; training for family medicine residents and medical students in reproductive health care, expanding the provider pool; and provides leadership opportunities for the women involved in the clinic’s Community Advisory Board. With the support of the grant, the staff of the Free Clinic and RHAP created an online toolkit that provides guidance and resources for existing Free Clinics interested in replicating the model and expanding the scope of reproductive health care they provide.  In addition, they created postcards to promote the toolkit that they mailed to all student-run free clinics in the country.  They also disseminated information about the model at over 12 national conferences and local events. In addition, they identified several free clinic sites with potential to expand reproductive health services and are continuing to work with the sites and provide technical assistance.

Ohio
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio used the funding to increase access to EC and other over-the-counter birth control methods in their state Medicaid program. They conducted extensive research into the state Medicaid program and its current coverage of over-the-counter contraception. They also built strong connections with state Medicaid officials, which was an exciting development as the organization had never previously worked with the state Medicaid program. They compiled the results from their research and meetings into a White Paper on EC and Medicaid and plan to use the report in their continued efforts to advocate for state Medicaid coverage for over-the-counter contraception. Unfortunately, the state fiscal crisis has made movement on this issue very slow, but NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio continues to use their research and new contacts to push for this expansion. In addition, they also are working to expand access to contraception through a family planning waiver for the state.

Washington/Montana
Legal Voice (formerly Northwest Women’s Law Center) used the funding to work to ensure low-income women in Montana have full and ready access to birth control, including Medicaid coverage for EC over-the-counter and decreased pharmacy refusal obstacles. Legal Voice attorneys researched and analyzed Montana’s law and regulations regarding Medicaid’s coverage of over-the-counter EC and succeeded in mapping the legal strategy for expanding coverage in the state. They engaged allies in Montana in prioritizing this issue for low-income women. The advocates have begun the political process to achieve regulatory change, however the process has been slowed due to the economic crisis.