A state-funded initiative that provides free contraception to low-income Virginians is reducing unintended pregnancies across the state, according to a new report delivered to the General Assembly. This report comes as Republicans in Virginia have opposed codifying the right to access contraception in recent years.
The Virginia Contraceptive Access Initiative, or CAI, launched as a pilot in 2018 and expanded in 2020. About 95% of women served are between 15 to 44 years of age and 60% of women served are 100% at or below the federal poverty level, which is $25,820 for a family of three, according to VDH.
The program currently has an annual budget of $4 million.
A study conducted by Vanderbilt University and the Virginia Department of Health found the initiative lowered birth rates by 1.6 to 3.5% in participating counties, with no negative impact on infant health. In fiscal year 2023, CAI supported more than 6,200 patient encounters through 18 health care providers across the state.
this information, VDH asked participants of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System
(PRAMS) survey, “Thinking back to just before you got pregnant with your new baby, how did
you feel about becoming pregnant?” The data suggests that approximately 40% of Virginia
women experience a pregnancy that they either wanted later, did not want, or were not sure that
they wanted.
The findings land amid renewed political debate over contraception access in Virginia.
Earlier this year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the Right to Contraception Act, sponsored by state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield. The bill would have enshrined the right of individuals to use, and doctors to prescribe, contraception.
In his veto message, Youngkin called the legislation unnecessary, arguing that contraception access is already protected by the U.S. Constitution. He also warned it could expose religious organizations and medical providers to legal challenges.
“This bill contains significant flaws by creating overly broad rights of action,” Youngkin wrote.
Democrats, however, say the CAI report underscores the need for stronger legal protections as access to reproductive health care remains politically vulnerable.
The House of Representatives in Washington D.C., just advanced legislation that would defund organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Executive Director Jamie Lockhart said the CAI offers critical safeguards as Republicans in Congress work to defund Planned Parenthood.
“The Contraceptive Access Initiative is our frontline defense in ensuring people can still access birth control—no matter what happens federally,” she said.
Lockhart says that the cuts to Planned Parenthood will take healthcare away from thousands of Virginians and CAI will become a lifeline for those people.
“CAI is the best tool Virginia has to fill the gap and make sure people don’t lose access to the birth control they need,” she said.
Hashmi, who is now seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, echoed that sentiment.
“This work is now under threat by the Trump administration,” Hashmi said in a statement. “Virginians deserve access to health care and autonomy over their family planning. The loss of federal funding harms our entire health care system.”