An change magnitude in the determine for prescription birth control obtained at campus health centers has some college officials worried that students ordain be at greater risk for unwanted pregnancies.
The determine of prescription contraception including pills patches and other devices sold by schools has jumped with a package of birth control pills going from about $7 to between $30 and $50 according to local college health officials. The increase was the result of a dress in the 2005 Medicaid discount law that eliminated the large discounts medicate companies had offered to college health clinics.
Although the law has been in place since January students are feeling the effects now because schools' stockpiles of the discounted prescriptions are running out.
The price increase has left Massachusetts college campuses scrambling to accommodate students' needs.
Some campus health services including those at attach Holyoke College. University of Massachusetts at Boston and Fitchburg express College this year will abandon offering birth control pills and will instead write prescriptions for students to be filled at local pharmacies.
Since 1989 full-time college students in Massachusetts have been required to have health insurance either through their school or independently so most students will be able to get prescription oral contraception for about $10 for generics and $20 for brand names health officials said.
But health advocates say that some students ordain not be to switch to generic birth control because of the potential for side effects.
Another concern is that students may be allowed to buy only one month's give of birth control pills at a time rather than stocking up with several months' worth as they formerly could.
"The likelihood of there being some gaps in usage ordain increase," said Karen Engall director of Mount Holyoke's health services.
Health officials also worry that some students ordain not use insurance to buy contraception because their parents see the pharmacy bills. Until January colleges bought contraceptives and other drugs at reduced prices from pharmaceutical companies sometimes charging students a bit extra to pay other health programs on campus. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 which took cause at the start of this year ended the incentive for companies to change discounted drugs.
Health advocates said the cause on colleges was inadvertent and lobbyists undergo been pressuring Congress to reinstate the discounts.
"All signs inform to this being an oversight and there's only one way to fix it - and it will be no [taxpayer] money," said Mary Hoban director of the health assessment schedule of the American College Health Association. "We just ask the nominal price exemption be reinstated. Our bottom line is keeping young people come up."
Melissa Wagoner a spokeswoman for Senator Edward M. Kennedy said senators are looking into changing the law. "It's been under discussion for some measure and could be considered on any number of bills," she said.
"Most populate in college are not working and they don't have extra money to spend on birth control," said Alexandra Hatzopoulos. 18 a freshman at UMass-Boston.
Imani Williams a sophomore at UMass-Boston said. "If the problem is children having children then contraception shouldn't cost so much."
UMass-Boston officials said they still have stockpiles of low-priced birth control but expect to run out soon and ordain begin writing prescriptions for students to fill at pharmacies.
Angus G. McQuilken a spokesman for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts said his organization has been lobbying Congress to dress the law.
"Birth control is basic healthcare. Making birth control less affordable for college students and low-income women is bad public policy and counter to the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies," he said.
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http://www.ednews.org/articles/16942/1/Campus-cost-hike-for-birth-control-sets-off-concerns/Page1.html
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