The Wyoming Department of Health will offer more low-income women the ability to receive family planning services through its new Pregnant by Choice program starting the first of the year.

The aptly named program will offer women, who have recently delivered a baby on Medicaid but will lose their benefits 60 days after delivery, the services to help this segment of the population reduce unintended pregnancies, according to Sheree Nall, of the department.

Services include contraceptive management, initial and followup exams for family planning, reproductive health counseling, testing for sexually transmitted infections and education, she said.

"Personally, I believe so strongly in giving women a choice," said Nall, provider services manager for Wyoming EqualityCare, or Medicaid.

She said many women cannot afford family planning services and education without help. Some just have "baby after baby," she said.

Donna Griffin, chief nurse executive for the department's public health nursing office, said the program can help women spread their pregnancies out if they choose.

Spacing out pregnancies allows the woman's body to heal, gives her ample time to prepare for another pregnancy and lets her bond with her new baby, she said.

"Women do want to take responsibility for themselves," Griffin said. "This gives them the chance to say, 'Not right now.'"

Education is a big piece of the program, they both said, including talking about abstinence.

The waiver is matched 90 percent from the federal government, Nall said.

There are no caps on the program currently and at least 186 women must enroll in the first year, which Nall said they should have no problem hitting.

Nall said they have not had any bad publicity about the program and 13 other states have similar waivers, including New York and Maryland.

"We're talking about unintended pregnancies," Nall said. "We would never want to take away a woman's choice to have a baby."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.

Eligibility criteria for Pregnant by Choice

- Must be transitioning from Pregnant Women program.

- Must not be eligible for another Medicaid program or have health insurance.

- Must be a Wyoming resident and U.S. citizen.

- Must be ages 19 to 44.

- Must have an income equal to or less than 133 percent of the poverty level, or $28,156 for a family of four.

- Must be transitioning from Pregnant Women program.

- Must not be eligible for another Medicaid program or have health insurance.

- Must be a Wyoming resident and U.S. citizen.

- Must be ages 19 to 44.

- Must have an income equal to or less than 133 percent of the poverty level, or $28,156 for a family of four.]]->