The Effects of Federal Funding Cuts On Family Planning Services, 1980-1983

Abstract

According to data from surveys conducted in the past two years, some changes occurred in the provision of family planning services between 1980, the year before the 1981 federal budget cuts, and 1983. Six percent of the family planning agencies that were operating in 1980 had closed or had stopped offering medical family planning services by 1983. The annual income of the family planning agencies that continued to operate, adjusted for inflation, was lower in 1983 than in 1980. While Title X remains the principal source of family planning funding, the proportion of clinics receiving income from Title X declined substantially during the period under study; this drop occurred among all types of providers. There was a slight decline in the proportion receiving funding from the Social Services block grant (formerly Title XX) in 1983, but there was no change in the contribution made by the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) block grant (formerly Title V). The proportion of total clinic income represented by Title XIX (Medicaid) funds rose slightly during this period. Decreases in federal funding appear to have been partly offset by an increase in the proportion of total income contributed by state and local governments and by private sources, particularly patient fees. Indeed, the number of agencies that collected patient fees, the proportion of clinic income derived from such fees and the proportion of patients who paid at least part of the cost of their family planning services all increased between 1980 and 1983. A separate survey of providers shows that fees varied widely, depending on a woman's income and on the type of agency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)