Recent evidence from the Michigan Contraceptive Access, Research, and Evaluation Study (M-CARES), led by Professor Martha Bailey with Resound Research’s Vanessa Lang as a collaborator, was recently featured in an analysis by The New York Times exploring the potential impacts of cuts to healthcare in 2026. M-CARES is a large-scale randomized control trial that examines the short- and long-term effects of increasing financial access to contraceptives in the United States for low-income women.
The research cited by the New York Times was taken from the paper, “Does Increasing Financial Access to Contraception in the U.S. Reduce Undesired Pregnancies? Evidence from the M-CARES Randomized Control Trial at Two Years.” This publication examines financial access to contraception among women seeking care through Title X, a safety-net contraceptive access program that has suffered funding losses. Study authors find that removing financial barriers increased the likelihood of buying contraception by 69% and increased method efficacy by 44%. In addition, subsidizing contraception resulted in a 16% reduction in pregnancies and a 12% reduction in abortions. These results are highly relevant for understanding the effects of eliminating funding for Title X, and the possible consequences for contraceptive use and pregnancy outcomes.
The M-CARES project recently received an NIH R01 grant for a follow-up study. Dr. Lang will help develop and implement the follow-up survey, conduct data analysis, and collaborate in the development of manuscripts. “Reducing cost burdens and barriers to contraception remains a committed goal of mine, and I’m fortunate to be part of such a well-regarded long-term project that supports the development of evidence-based interventions,” says Dr. Lang.
Since arriving at Resound Research in March 2025, Dr. Lang has continued to examine the policy implications surrounding barriers and access to contraception. In particular, she has extended her research into the topic of access to preferred contraception, a focus of the Resound Research team.“With Resound Research, I am able to apply what I have learned about contraceptive access and to address questions of preferred contraceptive method use in Mississippi and Louisiana, as part of one of our current research projects,” says Dr. Lang “I look forward to putting the skills and knowledge I have built up over time to the service of women living the Deep South, who often face some of the greatest challenges accessing contraception in the United States.”
Resound Research’s Preferences for and Barriers to Contraceptive Use in Mississippi and Louisiana project aims to identify the barriers Mississippi and Louisiana residents face in using their preferred method of contraception and determine approaches that could help facilitate their preferred method use. Evidence generated from the study can be used to enhance equitable access to the full range of contraceptive methods. Initial results will be coming out later this year.