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Thompson approved the state's Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waiver that will provide family planning services to women between the ages of 15 and 44 with annual incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). (The FPL for 2002 is $8,860 for an individual and $18,100 for a family of four). In addition, the state will offer other primary care services to enrollees through its network of community health centers.

"Through this waiver, Wisconsin is providing a much-needed service for women who are unlikely to have insurance coverage or the private resources to purchase such care in the private sector," Secretary Thompson said. "These women will receive appropriate family planning services as well as access to a full set of primary care services."

Wisconsin will provide comprehensive family planning services through a broad network of existing and newly participating providers. The state hopes to save over $10 million in Medicaid funds over the five-year life of the demonstration. Similar family planning and primary care demonstrations have been approved in both Washington state and South Carolina.

Since taking office, Secretary Thompson has worked to improve access to health care through innovative coverage programs in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Since January 2001, HHS has approved waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to about 1.8 million people.

Medicaid is a state-federal partnership that pays for health and long-term care services for certain low-income individuals, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities. States and the federal government share Medicaid costs and the states administer their own programs.

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