Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2013
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Public Management and Policy
First Advisor
John Thomas, PhD
Second Advisor
Karen Minyard, PhD
Third Advisor
James Marton, PhD
Fourth Advisor
Juan Rogers, PhD
Fifth Advisor
Kathleen Adams, PhD
Abstract
From Policy to Practice:
Implementation of Georgia’s Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Program
Sarah C. Blake, MA
282 pages
Directed by Dr. John Thomas
The purpose of this research was to examine the implementation of Georgia’s Medicaid family planning program, known as Planning for Healthy Babies® or P4HB®. This program is the first such program to provide both family planning services and inter-pregnancy care services through a Medicaid expansion to low-income, uninsured women. An evaluative case study design was employed using mixed methods. These methods incorporated process measures to study the implementation of P4HB® and to assess whether P4HB® was implemented as planned We incorporated theory from the policy implementation and health care access literatures to understand what served as facilitators or barriers to successful implementation. Findings suggest that despite precise goals and objectives, formal guidance about the program did not incorporate clear implementation planning. Many stakeholders, including advocates, providers, and representatives from implementing agencies felt left out of the implementation process and did not feel invested in the program. Considerable confusion existed among eligible clients and providers about the nature and scope of the P4HB® program. This lack of awareness and understanding about P4HB® likely contributed to the program’s low enrollment and participation in the first year of its implementation. As many states prepare to expand their Medicaid programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), this study provides important lessons for policy planning and implementation.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/4042502
Recommended Citation
Blake, Sarah, "From Policy to Practice: Implementation of Georgia's Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Program." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2013.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/4042502