How to discontinue Nurse-Family Partnership service?
Please, no nasty comments! I am currently almost 8 weeks pregnant and for the time being I am on Pregnant Medicaid and am not receiving any other government assistance. My husband is working full time and is a member of the Army National Guard and I am a recent college graduate and going on job interviews now for a teaching job. I am on Pregnant Medicaid until I am able to get my own insurance through my job.
I am seeking my prenatal care at my own OB/GYN clinic which is in a different county (but nearby) than where I live. Yesterday, I received a phone call from a nurse at my county health department. Apparently, since I am a first-time mom on Medicaid I have to participate in a program called Nurse-Family Partnership. The thing is, I don't want to be involved in this program, even though I answered the nurses questions via phone call yesterday. My sister was enrolled in this program (for the same reason) two years ago and its just a hassle and waste of time really.
The program has a nurse call you every one to two months during and after your pregnancy to ask you "safety" questions about your pregnancy. Not only does the nurse call you every few months, but home visits are conducted by nurses for the first two and a half years after the child's birth. When I spoke to the nurse on the phone she also made it a point to tell me that she wanted me to see the dentist at the Health Department for at least two cleanings during my pregnancy, although I have dental insurance through my father and I have my own dentist. You only get cleanings every 6 months and I'm not due for another one until November and after that in May, when the baby will already be 3 months old. She also wants me to go see a primary doctor, that she is setting me up with, because I have asthma, although I stressed to her that my asthma is under control and I have all the medications I need. Pregnant Medicaid won't cover asthma needs and I don't have the money for that at the moment.
I would like to forego these services, but how do I tell the nurse to "go away"? I am happily married, have a doctor I am seeing for prenatal services, have supportive family and friends, and have a steady income along with hopes of a career in teaching within the next month. I don't need extra help with raising a child in a safe home because I am qualified as being "poverty stricken" and a first time mom, which is the goal of this program according to the website.