Unplanned pregnancies have profound fiscal and public health consequences in Ohio. Modern contraception allows individuals to determine the number and spacing of their children for when they are best prepared socially and economically to support a family. Expanding contraceptive services is a proven strategy to significantly reduce Medicaid costs for unplanned births and newborn care.

Please sign this petition to ask Gov. Strickland to extend family planning coverage through Medicaid to low-income Ohio women.

The Medicaid Family Planning State Option would give contraceptive coverage to 180,000 Ohio women with incomes of up to 200% of the poverty level. The expansion would also significantly decrease pregnancy and newborn costs for Ohio Medicaid as well as other safety net programs.

Such an expansion of Medicaid eligibility is also sound fiscal policy since the federal government pays 90% of the cost of family planning services. Ohio can expect $1.4 million in cost savings in the first year and as much as $41.1 million in savings in the third year.

Gov. Ted Strickland supports this expansion of Medicaid eligibility! In fact, he circulated a letter last summer that was signed by 15 other governors and sent to the Congressional leadership in support of the Medicaid Family Planning State Option. The next step is for Ohio to seek federal approval to change the state's Medicaid plan to take advantage of the Medicaid Family Planning State Option.

Please sign this petition to thank Gov. Strickland for his support and to encourage him to submit the required state plan amendment at the earliest opportunity so that women throughout our state can get access to basic preventive health services like breast and cervical cancer screening and birth control.