Family Planning Services

"Family Planning Services" means medical, educational and social services, excluding sterilization, which enable individuals voluntarily to limit family size or plan spacing of children. Family planning services include the below-listed services. See 106 CMR 269.030(A)(B). (a) Information and referral (including outreach and follow-up) (b) Individual and group counseling (c) A physical examination 1. for a female, includes thyroid, breast, heart, abdominal, speculum, pelvic, and rectal examinations, and measurements of height, weight and blood pressure; 2. for a male, includes thyroid, heart, genital, abdominal, and rectal examinations, and measurements of height, weight and blood pressure. (d) A pap smear for females. (e) Any laboratory test indicated by the child's history or examination. (f) A medically approved method of contraception. (g) Medical examinations, consultations, laboratory tests and contraceptive services rendered by a licensed physician (h) Medical treatment for related conditions, such as venereal diseases or vaginal infections (i) Prescriptions and medical items related to family planning services including drugs, supplies and devices (j) Clinical follow-up (2) Provision of Information. (a) Department staff shall inform a child in the care or custody of the Department, or a child who is a ward of the Department, about family planning services available to sexually active minors if such child requests this information or if in the judgment of Department staff such child has need for this information. (b) Department staff shall not coerce any child in any way to receive family planning services or to employ any particular method of family planning. A child's use of family planning services must be completely voluntary. (3) Consent by Child. Any child who requests family planning services, whether such child is in the care or custody of the Department, or is a ward of the Department, may consent to his/her own medical and laboratory family planning services. The consent of the Department is not necessary in such cases. (4) Consent by Department or Parent. If the child consents to family planning services but the medical provider insists on parental or Department consent, the Department may consent. If the child is not able to consent, the Department may consent.