Fact sheet: Planning for Healthy Babies [Nov. 2013]

Fact Sheet
Planning for Healthy Babies
P4HB Overview
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) offers Planning for Healthy Babies to reduce Georgia's low birth weight rate. P4HB fills a critical gap in health care for underinsured and uninsured women by expanding Medicaid eligibility to those who qualify for family planning services.
Georgia's low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) rates have become a growing concern for DCH's Medical Assistance Plans Division and health care providers throughout the state. LBW is defined as babies born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces and VLBW is the category of babies born weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Birth spacing affects low birth weight rates.
What Is the Planning for Healthy Babies Program?
Planning for Healthy Babies provides no-cost family planning services to eligible women in Georgia. A woman can enroll in one of the following P4HB services:
Family Planning.
Inter-pregnancy Care (IPC), which includes Family Planning and Resource Mother.
Case Management and Resource Mother, which is only for current Medicaid recipients.

Georgia Department of Community Health | 2 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | www.dch.georgia.gov | 404-656-4507

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Fact Sheet

An Overview of P4HB
What Is Covered in P4HB?
Family Planning Services Participants in the P4HB program are eligible for family planning services covered by the Georgia Medicaid program including:
Family planning initial exam and annual exam. Family planning and related services including contraceptives and supplies. Follow-up family planning visits. Pregnancy tests and pap smears. T esting for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). T reatment and follow-up for all STD(s) except HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Counseling and referrals to social services and primary health care providers. Sterilization. Family planning pharmacy visits. Vitamins/folic acid. Select immunizations for participants ages 19 and 20. Participants age 18 receive vaccines at no cost.
Inter-pregnancy Care Services (IPC) In addition to the family planning services listed above, women who give birth to a baby weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces on or after January 1, 2011 (the start date of the program), are eligible for IPC services, which offer:
Primary care (5 office/outpatient visits). Substance abuse treatment. Resource Mother services (case management). Limited dental services. Prescription drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases (non-family planning).
Resource Mother Services Women who currently receive Medicaid benefits and give birth to a baby weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces on or after January 1, 2011, are only eligible for Resource Mother services. The Resource Mother

Georgia Department of Community Health | 2 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | www.dch.georgia.gov | 404-656-4507

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An Overview of P4HB
offers support to mothers and provides them with information on parenting, nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Resource Mother also offers the following services:
Opportunities to meet with P4HB participants via phone or in person to increase their adoption of healthy behaviors, including healthy eating choices and smoking cessation. Follow-up visits to make sure the baby receives regular "well-baby" check-ups and immunizations. Referrals to community resources such as WIC. Provision of peer and emotional support needed to meet the health demands of a mother's VLBW baby and more.
Who is Eligible?
Women ages 18 through 44 who meet monthly family income limits. Women who do not receive Medicaid (eligible for family planning services). Women who give birth to a baby weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces and do not receive Medicaid or are losing Medicaid coverage are eligible for IPC services. Women who receive Medicaid and give birth to a baby weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces are only eligible for Resource Mother services.
How Do I Apply?
You can apply online at www.planning4healthybabies.org or pick up an application at your local: P ublic Health Department. Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.
Completed applications and required documents should be faxed to 888-744-2102 or mailed to:
Planning for Healthy Babies Post Office Box 1810 Atlanta, Georgia 30301-1810
Where Can I Go for More Information?
For more information, visit dch.georgia.gov/p4hb or call 877-P4H-B101 or 877-744-2101.

Georgia Department of Community Health | 2 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | www.dch.georgia.gov | 404-656-4507

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