Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Release New Data on Managed Care (Postpartum contraceptive use among Medicaid beneficiaries following Idaho’s abortion ban): Managed Care

2026 OCT 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Managed Care have been published. According to news reporting originating in Portland, Oregon, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Abortion bans have been associated with decreased reproductive health care access. We examined the association between Idaho’s abortion ban and postpartum contraceptive use among Medicaid beneficiaries.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), “This retrospective cohort study used Medicaid claims data from Idaho and Oregon with a difference-in-differences approach. We included Medicaid-enrolled women aged 15-44 who delivered a live birth between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2023. Idaho’s abortion ban, implemented August 25, 2022, criminalized abortion from fertilization with narrow exceptions; Oregon served as the comparison state. The primary outcome was receipt of most effective contraception (implant, intrauterine device, or tubal ligation) within 90 days of delivery. Secondary outcomes included most effective contraception within 3 days of delivery, most or moderately effective contraception within 3 days and within 90 days of delivery, and postpartum visit attendance within 60 days. Analyzing 56,508 live births to 53,966 Medicaid beneficiaries in Idaho and Oregon, we found that Idaho’s abortion ban was associated with a 1.52-percentage point decrease in receipt of the most effective contraception within 90 days postpartum (95% CI, -2.94 to -0.10; p = 0.04) and a 1.41-percentage point decrease within 3 days (95% CI, -2.29 to -0.52; p = 0.002). Postpartum visit attendance declined by 3.13 %age points (95% CI, -5.59 to -0.67; p = 0.01). Immediate postpartum declines coincided with decreased permanent contraception in Idaho (5.0% vs. 4.2%), while Oregon saw an increase (5.9% vs. 6.6%). Idaho’s abortion ban was associated with significant declines in most effective postpartum contraceptive use and visit attendance among Medicaid beneficiaries, suggesting abortion restrictions may have unintended consequences for postpartum care access. Idaho’s abortion ban was associated with reduced postpartum contraceptive use and visit attendance among Medicaid beneficiaries.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Clinicians practicing in states with abortion restrictions should be aware of potential declines in postpartum care engagement and prioritize counseling and access to contraception throughout care.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Postpartum contraceptive use among Medicaid beneficiaries following Idaho’s abortion ban. Contraception, 2026;163:111572. Contraception can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Contraception - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/contraception/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Maria I. Rodriguez, Center for Reproductive Health Equity, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, United States. Additional authors for this research include Ashley Clark, Ann Martinez Acevedo, Oluwadamilola Sosanya and Hyunjee Kim.

The publisher of the journal Contraception can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)