PRIVATE PHYSICIANS PROVISION OF CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES

Private physicians provide family planning services to the majority of American women. According to data from the National Ambulatory Medica l Care Survey, office-based physicians received on average 13.5 millio n visits annually for contraceptive services during 1990-1992. Private insurance was the expected form of payment for 38% of visits, while m anaged care covered 22% of visits, and Medicaid or another source of p ublic assistance subsidized 12%; 22% were self-paid and 6% covered by other sources. The majority of patients who received contraceptive ser vices gave a reason other than general family planning or care regardi ng a specific contraceptive as the primary purpose for their visit, al though women covered by a managed care plan or through public funding were the most likely to give general family planning needs as the main reason. Women whose visit was listed as publicly funded were less lik ely to have a contraceptive prescribed or provided or to obtain a Pap test that were those expected to pay with private insurance.