2008 Woodie Awards
Deficit act causes increases in birth-control pill prices
By: Kevin Lincoln
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News
Last update: 10/25/07 at 7:08 AM EST
Last update: 10/25/07 at 7:08 AM EST
- Page 1 of 2 next >
In recent months, the birth control pills that many college women-35 percent of sexually active female students, according to the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment-obtain from their universities have doubled or tripled in price.
The increase has occurred because a discount that many student health centers relied on to provide birth control at reduced prices is no longer available. The markdown was eliminated by the Deficit Reduction Act, which went into effect this January.
The act had not affected Duke Student Health Center contraceptive prices until recently, however, when the University pharmacy's stock of pills bought under cheaper contract prices was depleted, said pharmacist Steve Almond.
"We have since run out of all things we have gotten under the good contract prices and the prices for those things have really increased," Almond said.
The main pill, Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo, provided by the Student Health Center at a discounted price has also gone up the most, from $20 to $46, he said.
The makers of the pill, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, said they were committed to providing affordable birth control despite this increase.
"Our company is one of the lowest-cost providers of oral contraceptives to public health services, and we are committed to assisting the underserved community serviced by these public health services," said Gloria Vanderham, communications manager for Ortho-McNeil.
It is unclear, however, whether companies could bring the prices back to former levels without a change in legislation.
The Deficit Reduction Act stipulated that the calculation of a best price could be made omitting certain purchasers of birth control pills at nominal prices, according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The organization said in a statement that the act completely cut universities and colleges out of the benefit.
Planned Parenthood has encouraged Congress to amend the law in order to address the issue. Jennifer Ferris, communications coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, said it was essential for students to make their discontent with the DRA known to their senators in order to see change.
The increase has occurred because a discount that many student health centers relied on to provide birth control at reduced prices is no longer available. The markdown was eliminated by the Deficit Reduction Act, which went into effect this January.
The act had not affected Duke Student Health Center contraceptive prices until recently, however, when the University pharmacy's stock of pills bought under cheaper contract prices was depleted, said pharmacist Steve Almond.
"We have since run out of all things we have gotten under the good contract prices and the prices for those things have really increased," Almond said.
The main pill, Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo, provided by the Student Health Center at a discounted price has also gone up the most, from $20 to $46, he said.
The makers of the pill, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, said they were committed to providing affordable birth control despite this increase.
"Our company is one of the lowest-cost providers of oral contraceptives to public health services, and we are committed to assisting the underserved community serviced by these public health services," said Gloria Vanderham, communications manager for Ortho-McNeil.
It is unclear, however, whether companies could bring the prices back to former levels without a change in legislation.
The Deficit Reduction Act stipulated that the calculation of a best price could be made omitting certain purchasers of birth control pills at nominal prices, according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The organization said in a statement that the act completely cut universities and colleges out of the benefit.
Planned Parenthood has encouraged Congress to amend the law in order to address the issue. Jennifer Ferris, communications coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, said it was essential for students to make their discontent with the DRA known to their senators in order to see change.
Be the first to comment on this story