2008 Woodie Awards
Increase in birth control expenses not seen at Plattsburgh State
Prices increase 900 percent, affects millions of women
Joanna Knight
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News
Originally published: 12/6/07 at 6:00 PM EST
Last update: 12/6/07 at 7:07 PM EST
A technical mistake in the writing of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) signed into law by Congress last year has caused the price of birth control in college and university health centers and some women's health clinics to increase by as much as 900 percent.
The increase has affected more than 300 million college women so far and several hundred thousand low-income women who rely on health clinics like those operated by Planned Parenthood to provide them with access to birth control they can afford.
Kathleen Camelo, student health services director for Plattsburgh State, said health services will continue to provide birth control at the usual rate of $12 dollars, but will not be able to carry as many types of birth control as in the past.
Public Relations Director for Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood Martha Stahl said students used to taking a type of birth control that the college health center can no longer offer, like low-hormone Ortho Tri-Cyclen, will still have access to the same range of options through Planned Parenthood's administrative headquarters in Plattsburgh.
Plattsburgh's Planned Parenthood has not been affected by the price increase because of its federal classification, but many clinics nationwide have been unable to keep prices affordable. At these clinics, and at many college and university health centers in New York state and nationwide, birth control that once cost $5 or $10 can now cost $40-50. Some campushealth centers have been unable to provide any birth control to students.
More than nine months after the DRA mistake, Congress has not corrected the provision that continues to drive prices up. As unplanned pregnancies on college campuses and among low-income women have risen, the Bush White House has chosen Susan Orr to head the Department of Health and Human Services' various family planning programs. Orr was quoted in the Washington Post in 2001 responding to the Bush administration's move to place limits similar to those imposed by the DRA on federal employee access to birth control. She said, "We're quite pleased, because fertility is not a disease."
The increase has affected more than 300 million college women so far and several hundred thousand low-income women who rely on health clinics like those operated by Planned Parenthood to provide them with access to birth control they can afford.
Kathleen Camelo, student health services director for Plattsburgh State, said health services will continue to provide birth control at the usual rate of $12 dollars, but will not be able to carry as many types of birth control as in the past.
Public Relations Director for Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood Martha Stahl said students used to taking a type of birth control that the college health center can no longer offer, like low-hormone Ortho Tri-Cyclen, will still have access to the same range of options through Planned Parenthood's administrative headquarters in Plattsburgh.
Plattsburgh's Planned Parenthood has not been affected by the price increase because of its federal classification, but many clinics nationwide have been unable to keep prices affordable. At these clinics, and at many college and university health centers in New York state and nationwide, birth control that once cost $5 or $10 can now cost $40-50. Some campushealth centers have been unable to provide any birth control to students.
More than nine months after the DRA mistake, Congress has not corrected the provision that continues to drive prices up. As unplanned pregnancies on college campuses and among low-income women have risen, the Bush White House has chosen Susan Orr to head the Department of Health and Human Services' various family planning programs. Orr was quoted in the Washington Post in 2001 responding to the Bush administration's move to place limits similar to those imposed by the DRA on federal employee access to birth control. She said, "We're quite pleased, because fertility is not a disease."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jill
posted 2/08/08 @ 8:17 PM EST
I recently went into the drug store to pick up my prescription for birth control pills, I was astounded to learn that the price was $55 for one pack! Even though I was covered by insurance (albeit a crappy, mandatory graduate school insurance) the cost still came to $25 per pack. (Continued…)
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