Provision Of Long-acting Reversible Contraception Research Articles

Association of Medicaid Reimbursement Policies with Provision of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in the Postpartum Period, 2012-2018.

Background: To address reimbursement challenges associated with long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in the postpartum period, state Medicaid programs have provided additional payments ("carve-outs"). Implementation has been heterogeneous, with states providing separate payments for the device only, procedure only, or both the device and procedure. Methods: Claims data were drawn from 210,994 deliveries in the United States between 2012 and 2018. Using generalized estimating equations, we assess the relationship between Medicaid carve-out policies and the likelihood of LARC placement at (1) 3 days postpartum, (2) 60 days postpartum, and (3) 1 year postpartum, in Medicaid and commercially insured populations. Results: Among Medicaid beneficiaries, the likelihood of receiving LARC was higher in states with any carve-out, compared with states without carve-outs, at 3 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.49 [95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.67], p < 0.001), 60 days (aOR: 1.40 [95% CI: 1.35-1.46], p < 0.001), and 1 year postpartum (aOR: 1.15 [95% CI: 1.11-1.20], p < 0.001). Adjustments were made for geographic region, seasonality, and patient age. Heterogeneity was observed by carve-out type; device carve-outs were consistently associated with greater likelihood of postpartum LARC placement, compared with states with no carve-outs. Similar trends were observed among commercially insured patients. Conclusion: Findings support the effectiveness of Medicaid carve-outs on postpartum LARC provision, particularly for device carve-outs, which were associated with increased postpartum LARC placement at 3 days, 60 days, and 1 year postpartum. This outcome suggests that policies to address cost-related barriers associated with LARC devices may prove most useful in overcoming barriers to immediate postpartum LARC placement, with the overarching aim of promoting reproductive autonomy.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Contraceptive Implant Training in New Jersey Family Medicine Residencies: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to examine experiences of New Jersey family medicine residents and preceptors with the etonogestrel subdermal contraceptive implant and to explore barriers to and facilitators of training. In this qualitative study, we conducted semistructured individual interviews to explore residents' and preceptors' experiences with contraceptive implant procedural training. We invited residents and preceptors from programs with high (5.2-10.9) and low (0.0-0.1) implant procedures per resident to participate. Participants discussed factors that supported or inhibited implant training and provision. We transcribed, coded, and analyzed interviews on a rolling basis. We used memoing to reflect on the data and identify saturation. We developed and refined our codebook using a collaborative, iterative process. We analyzed interviews using deductive and inductive techniques to identify themes. We interviewed 25 subjects: 14 residents and 11 preceptors from four family medicine residency programs with the highest and lowest implant training numbers. Common barriers included lack of hands-on experience with the procedure, lack of teaching with the procedure, and difficulty scheduling patients. Facilitators included formal training and inclusion of contraception in residency curricula, preceptors' comfort with the procedure, office sessions dedicated to procedures or gynecology visits, and patient familiarity with the implant. Family medicine residencies provide unique opportunities to impact provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). We identified potential interventions, including formal implant training sessions, dedicated procedure office sessions, stocking of devices in the office, and staff focused on reproductive health that can aid in scheduling, obtaining devices, and setup.

Provision of contraceptives by Brazilian general gynaecologists: a nationwide online survey

Objective To assess the provision of contraceptives by Brazilian obstetricians and gynaecologists (Obst/Gyns) during medical consultation and associated factors. Methods An anonymous online survey was conducted with Obst/Gyns regarding age, gender, training, method counselling about and provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Results Of 16,000 Obst/Gyns, 610 (3.8%) answered the survey. After multiple regression analysis, female Obst/Gyns (reference) (OR male was 0.53 [95%CI 0.28–0.98], p = 0.044) and Obst/Gyns aged between 20 and 39 were more likely to provide an IUD. For hormonal-IUDs, Obst/Gyns who had had theoretical training in hormonal-IUD insertion (reference no training) (OR = 2.13 [95%CI 1.14–3.99], p = 0.018), those who work in a private facility or public hospital, and those that allowed more time during consultations (reference) (OR short time = 0.33 [95%CI 0.17–0.63], p < 0.001) were more likely to provide them. Obst/Gyns who were hands-on trained were more likely to provide subdermal implant (OR = 2.04 [95%CI 1.45–2.87], p < 0.001). Conclusions There is a gap between theoretical and practical training received by this cohort of Obst/Gyns regarding LARCs, mainly contraceptive implants and hormonal-IUDs. The identification of barriers to offering contraceptives is essential to providing client-centred contraceptive care.

Adolescent Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Use, Same-Day Insertions, and Pregnancies Following a Quality Initiative

ObjectiveTo compare long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) use, pregnancy rate, and same-day LARC insertion among adolescents before and after a Kaiser Permanente Northern California quality initiative. MethodsA 2016 Kaiser Permanente Northern California initiative aimed to increase adolescent LARC access. Interventions included patient education resources, electronic protocols, and insertion training for pediatric, family medicine, and gynecology providers. This study examined a retrospective cohort of adolescents aged 15–18 years who used contraception before (2014–2015, n = 30,094) and after (2017-2018, n = 28,710) implementation. Contraceptive types included LARC (intrauterine device or implant), injectable, and contraceptive pill, patch, or ring. We reviewed a random sample of LARC users (n = 726) to identify same-day insertions. Multivariable analysis examined the effects of year of provision, age, race, ethnicity, LARC type, and counseling clinic. ResultsPreintervention, 12.1% of adolescents used LARC, 13.6% used injectable, and 74.3% used pill, patch, or ring. Postintervention, the proportions were 23.0%, 11.6%, and 65.4%, respectively, with the odds of LARC provision of 2.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44–2.72). The pregnancy rate decreased from 2.2% to 1.4% (p < .0001). Higher rates of pregnancy were observed with injectable contraception and in Black and Hispanic adolescents. Same-day LARC insertion rate was 25.1% without significant variation post intervention (OR 1.44, 95% confidence interval 0.93–2.23). Contraceptive counseling in gynecology clinics increased the odds of same-day provision, while non-Hispanic Black race lowered odds. DiscussionA multifaceted quality intervention was associated with a 90% increase in LARC use and a 36% decrease in teenage pregnancy rate. Future directions may include promoting same-day insertions, targeting interventions in pediatric clinics, and focusing on racial equity.

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research on Long-Acting Reversible Contraception and Healthcare Workers

INTRODUCTION: Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is a feasible solution to reduce unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. Nonetheless, the worldwide prevalence of LARC remains low. The LARC uptake depends heavily on healthcare workers because every LARC insertion requires a clinician’s visit, and they are a trusted source of contraceptive information. The study is aimed to explore the trend and distributions of global publications related to LARC and healthcare workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Articles related to LARC and healthcare workers were retrieved from the Scopus database. Eligible publications were limited to research articles, reviews, and conference papers published in the English language with no date restriction. The bibliometric data was analysed using Biblioshiny to obtain distributions in terms of the number of publications, journals, countries, institutions, citations, and keywords. RESULTS: A total of 681 eligible publications related to LARC and healthcare workers were retrieved from the Scopus database between 1967 to 2022. The number of publications was low for the first four decades but increased steadily from 2010 onwards. The leading country in this research area was the United States of America and the majority of the most productive institutions were from this country. Half of the frequently cited publications highlighted healthcare workers’ bias, attitude, and practice on LARC provision to clients. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis can guide scholars to understand the global overview of research about LARC and healthcare workers. It may be useful for health practitioners and researchers who are interested in exploring this research area.

Knowledge, beliefs and practices of nurses with long-acting reversible contraception, Cape Town.

Implanon and copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) are long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) available in public primary health care (PHC) South Africa. These methods are the most effective forms of contraception. To evaluate the knowledge, beliefs and practices on provision of LARC. Primary health care facilities within the Khayelitsha Eastern Substructure, Cape Town. A descriptive survey of all permanent nurses who provided contraception. Data were collected from 72/90 (80% response rate) via a validated questionnaire and evaluated using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Knowledge of eligibility for LARC was tested. The mean knowledge scores for Implanon were 8.56/11 (s.d. 1.42) for the trained and 7.16/11 (s.d. 2.83) for the untrained (p = 0.007). The mean knowledge scores for IUCD were 10.42/12 (s.d. 1.80) for the trained and 8.03/12 (s.d. 3.70) for the untrained (p = 0.019). Participants believed that inaccessibility to training courses (29%), no skilled person available (24%) and staff shortages (35%) were barriers. Less than 50% of women were routinely counselled for LARC. Forty-one percent of nurses were trained and performed IUCD insertion, and 64% were trained and performed Implanon insertion, while 61% and 45% required further training. Confidence was low, with 32% trained and confident in IUCD and 56% trained and confident in Implanon insertion. Lack of training, poor confidence and deficient counselling skills were barriers to effective LARC provision. The identified system-specific barriers must be addressed to improve uptake.Contribution: The first study to evaluate knowledge, beliefs and practices on LARC in providers in the Western Cape.

Informed choice and its associated factors among women received immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives at public hospitals in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, 2022

IntroductionIt is crucial to ensure the quality of family planning (FP) services through women's informed choice during the provision of long-acting reversible contraceptives. In Ethiopia, previous studies have focused on the quality of family planning services. However, much emphasis was not given to the informed choice of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), particularly in the study area. This study determines the mangnitude of informed choice and associated factors among immediate postpartum women who received long-acting reversible contraceptives.MethodAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 – August 31, 2022, among 373 immediate postpartum women who received long-acting reversible contraceptives at public hospitals in the Sidama regional state, Ethiopia. Women were selected and interviewed using a systematic random sampling technique and via a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire respectively. Data was collected using Kobo Toolbox software and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social science (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify the predictor variables.ResultsThe magnitude of informed choice of long-acting reversible contraceptives was 23.5% (95% CI (19.6%–27.7%)). The messages through posters about long-acting reversible contraceptives at the facility (AOR 3.6, 95% CI (1.92–6.79), postpartum family planning counseling during antenatal care (AOR 2.8, 95% CI (1.2–6.4), previous contraceptive use (AOR 3.23, 95% CI (1.12–9.33), and being secondary and higher educated (AOR 2.92, 95%CI (1.27–6.73) and (AOR 5.7, 95% CI (2.267–14.669) respectively were factors significantly associated with informed choice during immediate postpartum family planning service.Conclusion and recommendationIn the current study, nearly one-fourth of women were informed about LARCs. Socio-demographic factors, prior use of contraception, exposure to posters that have messages about long-acting reversible contraceptives, and postpartum family planning counselling during antenatal care are factors that affect the woman's ability to make an informed choice. There should be immediate PPFP counselling that focuses on a full range of contraceptive method choices to facilitate postpartum women's ability to make informed choices.

Provision of Postpartum Contraception Before and After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Maine.

Preliminary findings from selected health systems revealed interruptions in reproductive health care services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated changes in postpartum contraceptive provision associated with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. We used the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Database for deliveries from October 2015 through March 2021 (n = 45 916). Using an interrupted time-series analysis design, we estimated changes in provision rates of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), permanent contraception, and moderately effective contraception within 3 and 60 days of delivery after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed 6- and 12-month analyses (April 2020-September 2020, April 2020-March 2021) as compared with the reference period (October 2015-March 2020). We used Poisson regression models to calculate level-change rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs. The 6-month analysis found that provision of LARC (RR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.76-2.02) and moderately effective contraception (RR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.33-1.72) within 3 days of delivery increased at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while provision of LARC (RR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97) and moderately effective contraception (RR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.11) within 60 days of delivery was stable. Rates of provision of permanent contraception within 3 days (RR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63-0.78) and 60 days (RR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.80) decreased. RRs from the 12-month analysis were generally attenuated. Disruptions in postpartum provision of permanent contraception occurred at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. Public health policies should include guidance for contraceptive provision during public health emergencies and consider designating permanent contraception as a nonelective procedure.

Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Uptake and Outcomes [ID: 1371558]

INTRODUCTION: Tennessee Medicaid began covering immediate postpartum (IPP) long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in November 2017 with the goal of reducing the rate of short-interval births (SIBs) (defined as less than 24 months after a previous birth). In 2014, 22.7% of births in Tennessee were SIBs. We sought to determine IPP LARC uptake and SIB outcomes for women who received IPP LARC after this policy was implemented. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of women who delivered from March to December 2018 and received IPP LARC was conducted. LARC receipt and SIB outcomes were determined utilizing local, regional, and state records (IRB: 4768, 2021-0303). RESULTS: Among the 406 IPP LARC recipients, the average age was 25.9 (15–42), and the average number of living children was 1.28 (0–6). LARC type elected was 4.7% copper intrauterine system (Cu-IUS), 39.9% levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), and 55.4% contraceptive implant. Subsequent SIB was identified in only 5.4% (22). Of these, 2 received Cu-IUS, 10 received LNG-IUS, and 10 received contraceptive arm implants. Timing and reason for removal were documented for 7 of these. Expulsion was identified in 1 copper and 1 hormonal IUD. Removals due to side effects were reported in 3 implant and 2 hormonal IUD users. CONCLUSION: The rate of SIB among the IPP LARC recipients was much lower than the general rate among Tennessee women, highlighting the benefit of IPP LARC provision. Additionally, the high preference for contraceptive implants may reflect provider counseling on the increased risk of IUD expulsion when placed IPP or other factors that may be elucidated by future studies.

Geographic Variation In Effective Contraceptive Use Among Medicaid Recipients In 2018.

Medicaid is the largest payer for publicly funded contraception, serving millions of women across the United States. However, relatively little is known about the extent to which effective contraceptive services vary geographically for Medicaid recipients. This study used national Medicaid claims to assess county-level variation in rates of provision of the most or moderately effective methods of contraception and provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) across forty states and Washington, D.C., in 2018. County-level rates of most or moderately effective contraceptive use varied almost fourfold across states, from a low of 10.8percent to a high of 44.4percent. Rates of LARC provision varied almost tenfold, from a low of 1.0percent to a high of 9.6percent. Despite the fact that contraception is a core benefit within Medicaid, access and use vary substantially across and within states. Medicaid agencies have a variety of options to ensure that people have access to a choice of the full range of contraceptive methods, including removing or loosening utilization controls, incorporating quality metrics or value-based payments into contraceptive services, and adjusting reimbursement to remove barriers to the clinical provision of LARC.

Implementation of Title X Family Planning Services in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of a Primary Care Network in Georgia.

There is increasing interest and value in integrating family planning services into primary care. Title X services provide an opportunity to expand low-cost access to these services. This study sought to identify and describe implementation factors that influenced the integration of a package of Title X services into a unique primary care setting within a Georgia primary care network whose community health center sites are primarily federally qualified health centers. We used an implementation science approach and were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. From December 2019 to September 2020, we conducted interviews with administrators and providers working at grantee and sub-grantee organizations about their experiences integrating Title X services into their existing practice. Factors associated with the Inner Setting were especially important for integrating Title X in these settings. Participants identified specific needs related to resources such as electronic medical record (EMR) and reporting templates. Contextually specific clinical training for provision of long-acting reversible contraception and sexual health counseling, as well as administrative training for reporting and documentation efforts, was particularly needed. Grantee and sub-grantee organizations were able to leverage internal and external networks and adaptations to the intervention to successfully implement Title X services and to expand reach to new clients. Integrating family planning into primary care may expand access to low-income and underserved populations. Approaches that incorporate flexibility and provide tailored resources for primary care settings such as EMR and reporting templates and trainings, and that leverage multiple forms of support and knowledge sharing, may be particularly important for helping to implement Title X services.

Improving postpregnancy contraceptive method choice and long-acting reversible contraception provision in Botswana: a quality improvement pilot

Improving postpregnancy contraceptive method choice and long-acting reversible contraception provision in Botswana: a quality improvement pilot

Addressing Administrative and System-Level Challenges to Implementation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Practices: A Qualitative Study

Adolescents use long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods less than adults. Practices that specialize in adolescent medicine, including Adolescent Medicine (AM) and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG), may be well positioned to help improve adolescent access to these methods. We describe administrative and system-level barriers encountered when implementing LARCs for adolescents and strategies that practices have successfully used to address these barriers. We conducted a qualitative study with physicians and staff at AM and PAG practices that provide LARCs to adolescents. Semi-structured telephone interviews MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interview guides were based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), an implementation science methodology designed to understand the following aspects of settings adopting new practices: innovation characteristics, external environment, institutional and practice settings, the stakeholders involved, and the implementation process. Seventeen interviews were performed. When examining administrative and system-level challenges encountered by interviewees, the four CFIR constructs identified most frequently were cost, readiness for implementation-available resources, planning, and engaging. Interviewees shared strategies used to overcome these common barriers, including for billing and working with insurance companies, space and equipment needed to introduce LARCs, scheduling and use of telemedicine, and staff training and engagement. Sites used many strategies to address these common challenges to implementation. Examples could help with implementation of LARC provision in practices serving adolescent populations.

Continuous quality improvement strategy for increasing immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptive use at Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia

BackgroundEven though the immediate postpartum period is a golden time and a great opportunity to provide long-acting reversible contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancy, its utilisation is very low in Ethiopia....

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on publicly supported clinics providing contraceptive services in four US states

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted contraceptive service provision in the United States (US). We aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the publicly supported family planning network at the provider level. This study adds to the literature documenting the challenges of the pandemic as well as how telehealth provision compares across timepoints. Study designWe conducted a survey among sexual and reproductive health (SRH) providers at 96 publicly supported clinics in four US states asking about two timepoints—one early in the pandemic and one later in the pandemic. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the data. ResultsWe found that almost one-third of sites reduced contraceptive services because of the pandemic, with a few temporarily stopping contraceptive services altogether. More sites stopped provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), Pap tests, and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations than other methods or services. We also found that sites expanded some practices to make them more accessible to patients, such as extending existing contraceptive prescriptions without consultations for established patients and expanding telehealth visits for contraceptive counseling. In addition, sites reported high utilization of telehealth to provide contraceptive services. ConclusionsUnderstanding how service delivery changed due to the pandemic and how telehealth can be used to provide SRH services sheds light on how these networks can best support providers and patients in the face of unprecedented crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. ImplicationsThis study demonstrates that providers increased provision of telehealth for sexual and reproductive health care during the COVID-19 pandemic; policymakers in the US should support continued reimbursement of telehealth care as well as resources to expand telehealth infrastructure. In addition, this study highlights the need for more research on telehealth quality.

Increasing the availability of long-acting reversible contraception and medical abortion in primary care: the Australian Contraception and Abortion Primary Care Practitioner Support Network (AusCAPPS) cohort study protocol

IntroductionAlthough primary care practitioners are the main providers of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and early medical abortion (EMA) in Australia, few provide these services. A professional community of practice (CoP)...

Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Use Following State-Specific Changes in Hospital Medicaid Reimbursement

Facilitating access to the full range of contraceptive options is a health policy goal; however, inpatient provision of postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods has been limited due to lack of hospital reimbursement. Between March 2014 and January 2015, the Medicaid programs in 5 states began to reimburse hospitals for immediate postpartum LARC separately from the global maternity payment. To examine the association between Medicaid policies and provision of immediate postpartum LARC, and to examine hospital characteristics associated with policy adoption. This cross-sectional study used interrupted time series analysis. The setting was population-based in Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island. Participants included individuals who gave birth in these states between 2011 and 2017 (n = 3 097 188). Statistical analysis was performed from June 2021 to August 2022. Childbirth after the start of Medicaid's reimbursement policy. Immediate postpartum LARC (outcome), teaching hospital, Catholic-owned or operated, obstetrical care level, and urban or rural location (hospital characteristics). The study included a total of 1 521 491 births paid for by Medicaid and 1 575 697 paid for by a commercial payer between 2011 and 2017. Prior to Medicaid reimbursement changes, 489 389 of 726 805 births (67%) were to individuals between 18 and 29 years of age, 219 363 of 715 905 births (31%) were to non-Hispanic Black individuals, 227 639 of 715 905 births (32%) were to non-Hispanic White individuals, 155 298 of 715 905 births (22%) were to Hispanic individuals, and 113 605 of 715 905 births (16%) were to individuals from other non-Hispanic racial groups. Among Medicaid-paid births, the policies were associated with an increase in the rate of immediate postpartum LARC provision in all states, although results for Maryland were not consistent across sensitivity analyses. The change in trend ranged from a quarterly increase of 0.05 percentage points in Maryland (95% CI, 0.01-0.08 percentage points) and 0.05 percentage points in Iowa (95% CI, 0.00-0.11 percentage points) to 0.82 percentage points (95% CI, 0.73-0.91 percentage points) in Rhode Island. The policy was also associated with an increase in immediate postpartum LARC provision among commercially paid births in 4 of 5 states. After the policy, only 38 of 366 hospitals (10%) provided more than 1% of birthing people with immediate postpartum LARC. These adopting hospitals were less likely to be Catholic (0% [0 of 31] vs 17% [41 of 245]), less likely to be rural (10% [3 of 31] vs 33% [81 of 247]), more likely to have the highest level of obstetric care (71% [22 of 31] vs 29% [65 of 223]) and be teaching hospitals (87% [27 of 31] vs 43% [106 of 246]) compared with nonadopting hospitals. This cross-sectional study's findings suggest that Medicaid policies that reimburse immediate postpartum LARC may increase access to this service; however, policy implementation has been uneven, resulting in unequal access.

Co-design of a nurse-led model of care to increase access to medical abortion and contraception in rural and regional general practice: A protocol.

Women in rural and regional Australia experience a number of barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care including lack of local services, high costs and misinformation. Nurse-led task-sharing models of care for provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and early medical abortion (EMA) are one strategy to reduce barriers and improve access to services but have yet to be developed in general practice. Through a co-design process, we will develop a nurse-led model of care for LARC and EMA provision that can be delivered through face-to-face consultations or via telehealth in rural general practice in Australia. A co-design workshop, involving consumers, health professionals (particularly General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses (PNs)), GP managers and key stakeholders will be conducted to design nurse-led models of care for LARC and EMA including implant insertion by nurses. The workshop will be informed by the 'Experience-Based Co-Design' toolkit and involves participants mapping the patient journey for service provision to inform a new model of care. Recommendations from the workshop will inform a nurse-led model of care for LARC and EMA provision in rural general practice. The model will provide practical guidance for the set-up and delivery of services. Nurses will work to their full scope of practice to increase accessibility of EMA and LARC in rural Australia.

"This has definitely opened the doors": Provider perceptions of patient experiences with telemedicine for contraception in Illinois.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the provision of contraception through telemedicine. This qualitative study describes provider perceptions of how telemedicine provision of contraception has impacted patient care. We interviewed 40 obstetrics-gynecology and family medicine physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, and support staff providing contraception via telemedicine in practices across Illinois, including Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) health centers. We analyzed interview content to identify themes around the perceived impact of telemedicine implementation on contraception access, contraceptive counseling, patient privacy, and provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Participants perceived that telemedicine implementation improved care by increasing contraception access, increasing focus on counseling while reducing bias, and allowing easier method switching. Participants thought disparities in telemedicine usage and limitations to the technological interface presented barriers to patient care. Participants' perceptions of how telemedicine implementation impacts patient privacy and LARC provision were mixed. Some participants found telemedicine implementation enhanced privacy, while others felt unable to ensure privacy in a virtual space. Participants found telemedicine modalities useful for counseling patients considering methods of LARC, but they sometimes presented an unnecessary extra step for those sure about receiving one at a practice offering same day insertion. Providers felt telemedicine provision of contraception positively impacted patient care. Improvements to counseling and easier access to method switching suggest that telemedicine implementation may help reduce contraceptive coercion. Our findings highlight the need to integrate LARC care with telemedicine workflows, improve patient privacy protections, and promote equitable access to all telemedicine modalities.

Association of the Delaware Contraceptive Access Now Initiative with Postpartum LARC Use

ObjectivesAlthough multi-component policy interventions can be important tools to increase access to contraception, we know little about how they may change contraceptive use among postpartum women. We estimate the association of the Delaware Contraceptive Access Now (DelCAN) initiative with use of postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC). DelCAN included Medicaid payment reform for immediate postpartum LARC use, provider training and technical assistance in LARC provision, and a public awareness campaign.MethodsWe used a difference-in-differences design and data from the 2012 to 2017 pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system to compare changes in postpartum LARC use in Delaware versus 15 comparison states, and differences in such changes by women’s Medicaid enrollment.ResultsRelative to the comparison states, postpartum LARC use in Delaware increased by 5.26 percentage points (95% CI 2.90–7.61, P < 0.001) during the 2015–2017 DelCAN implementation period. This increase was the largest among Medicaid-covered women, and grew over the first three implementation years. By the third year of the DelCAN initiative (2017), the relative increase in postpartum LARC use for Medicaid women exceeded that for non-Medicaid women by 7.24 percentage points (95% CI 0.12–14.37, P = 0.046).Conclusions for PracticeThe DelCAN initiative was associated with increased LARC use among postpartum women in Delaware. During the first 3 years of the initiative, LARC use increased progressively and to a greater extent among Medicaid-enrolled women. Comprehensive initiatives that combine Medicaid payment reforms, provider training, free contraceptive services, and public awareness efforts may reduce unmet demand for highly effective contraceptives in the postpartum months.