Family Planning Clinics Floundering Under Health Law As Newly Covered Patients Seek Different Options
Low-income Californians who have insurance under the expanded Medi-Cal program are turning to primary care clinics and away from family planning ones, which are now either having to close or transform their business models to compete in the age of Obamacare.
KQED:
Why Stand-Alone Family Planning Clinics Struggle To Survive In Age Of Obamacare
For free checkups, testing, treatment and contraceptives, (Mary-Michael) Watts has referred hundreds of students — many of whom are low income — to the New Generation Health Center, about a mile from Mission High. ... So Watts and her young patients were shocked to learn that New Generation was supposed to close down in July due to financial troubles. ... New Generation’s troubles stem in part from the very specialization in reproductive health that has made it such a valuable resource for young patients in the Mission District, say experts. They contend that the Affordable Care Act has changed the business model for clinics like this, forcing most to transform by adding primary care services or merging with other health centers in order to remain competitive. (Romero, 6/15)