February 26, 2008

A new clinical guideline for preventing unintended pregnancy in adults has been jointly developed and released by a statewide 40-member Provider Task Force as part of the Governor's Blueprint for Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, in collaboration with the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC).

"In Michigan, about four in every 10 pregnancies are mistimed or unwanted at the time of conception," said Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom. "Every $1 in family planning saves $3 in medical costs."

Wisdom convened the Provider Task Force that drafted the guideline for MQIC's subsequent review and approval. The guideline provides tips for doctors and other providers when counseling patients on their plans to prevent an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. Patient and provider education materials also are included. The guideline was built from several evidence-based sources, including 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. Developed in a public-private partnership, it may be the first such clinical guideline in the United States.

Among other resources, the new clinical guideline helps to connect uninsured women up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level with family planning services through Plan First!, Michigan's Medicaid waiver program.

"Preventing unintended pregnancies will reduce infant mortality and abortion, as well as increase opportunities for a healthy pregnancy when the time is right," said Thomas Petroff, D.O., Provider Task Force chair and Chief Medical Officer of McLaren Health Plan/Health Advantage.

The new clinical guideline is available at www.mqic.org. Patient and provider education tools are downloadable by visiting the Michigan Department of Community Health's Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdch and clicking on Michigan's First Surgeon General. For more information on Plan First! call 1-800-642-3195 or go to www.michigan.gov/mdch.