71-5-133 - Provision of information concerning Norplant and other contraceptives.
71-5-133. Provision of information concerning Norplant and other contraceptives.
(a) The department of human services shall provide written information concerning the availability through the medicaid program of the Norplant contraceptive implant, and other functionally equivalent contraceptives that provide similar long-lasting pregnancy prevention, to all temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) recipients or to recipients of any successor program when such persons apply for benefits or are recertified. The department shall provide information concerning the availability of birth control and contraceptive implants to all males whose incomes are below the federal poverty level and who are receiving any other state or federal government subsidies, including, but not limited to, food assistance pursuant to part 3 of this chapter, if such males also qualify for medicaid and are able to impregnate females. Such information shall also be supplied to other women of child-bearing age whose income is below the federal poverty level and are receiving any other state or federal government subsidies, including, but not limited to, food assistance pursuant to chapter 5, part 3 of this title, if such persons also qualify for medicaid. The information provided shall clearly state that qualified health care providers are available to discuss the contraceptive in more detail upon request.
(b) Together with the information concerning availability required to be provided pursuant to subsection (a), the department shall also provide to each eligible recipient information regarding any risks involved in having such contraceptive implanted, as well as information on the use of all types of contraceptives, including abstinence, and the moral benefits of abstinence until marriage, and the health and other benefits of abstinence, which shall be disseminated in a manner that is reasonably calculated to make the information easily accessible to all recipients under the TANF program or to recipients of any successor program, as well as to other women of child-bearing age whose incomes are below the federal poverty level and who are receiving any other state or federal government subsidies, including, but not limited to, food assistance pursuant to chapter 5, part 3 of this title, if such persons also qualify for medicaid. The department's case workers will assist in making the appointment with the appropriate county health department.
[Acts 1993, ch. 255, § 1; 1996, ch. 950, § 17.]