The effects of variations in AFDC and Medicaid eligibility on prenatal care use.

Despite substantial evidence linking improved pregnancy outcomes with receipt of prenatal care and recent improvements in prenatal care utilization, specific subpopulations continue to receive less than adequate care. The study reported here examined the effects on prenatal care utilization of differences among states in AFDC and Medicaid eligibility policies. The study was based on information obtained from birth certificates and a mailed questionnaire to stratified random samples of all women experiencing live births during specified periods in four states. States were selected to provide comparisons between two states with liberal AFDC and Medicaid eligibility standards--Wisconsin and Colorado--and two states--Maine and Texas--which had more restrictive standards at the time data were collected. Study findings generally indicate that more liberal AFDC/Medicaid eligibility standards improve the adequacy of prenatal care among low income women. They also suggest, however, that the often lengthy eligibility process may actually pose barriers to care.