“It really was about putting the supplies and information into the hands of people with as few barriers as possible.”
Dr. Gwendolyn Unzicker is the Medical Director at Ottawa County Department of Public Health, one of 10 sites in the county participating in the popular initiative.
“So popular in fact that even if the supplies from the state are wrapping up, we plan to continue having these things available for our community members.”
The state health department and governor’s office launched the effort last November, focusing on accessibility and equity, giving residents access to emergency contraception, birth control pills, condoms and pregnancy tests for free and without requiring ID, paperwork or insurance, although a major goal was connecting people with insurance options.
“I think that is a huge thing for some people who have had negative experiences, or they feel like this is an issue that's too personal to talk to anybody about. It gets them that first step in to see we're not scary. We're here to help and we have information available. We have the supplies available.”
There’s also a greater awareness that free family planning services are available to eligible Medicaid recipients, and sexually transmitted infection testing and annual health screenings are available.
The month the campaign launched showed a 14% jump in Medicaid applications statewide.
“I think it's been a positive experience for both the community members and those that are providing the care, just being able to see they're actually able to make more of a difference this way.”
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