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September 8, 2008 10:51:42 AM CDT

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Price of Pill for Students Soars

Posted Nov 22, 07 3:45 AM CST in Science & Health 

(Newser) – Female students at US colleges may be cutting back on reliable contraceptives because a quirk in a federal law has made birth-control pills up to four times more expensive, health officials warn. A recent change in Medicaid regulations means drug companies no longer offer big discounts to health centers where students and low-income women obtain the pills, the New York Times reports.

One student reports the price of her monthly packet of pills jumped from $12 to $50. "That doesn’t mean you’ll stop having sex," she said. Congress may reinstate the discounts, which were inadvertently eliminated in Medicaid legislation. “This is such a mainstream issue,” said Planned Parenthood's president. But some critics wonder why college students got discounts in the first place.

Source New York Times

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    Jul 26, 07 1:49 PM CDT
    Birth Control Prices at US Colleges Skyrocket Many college students may no longer be able to afford birth control come September, thanks to a 2006 bill that discourages drug companies from offering schools deep discounts on contraceptives. The change went into effect this year, but students will feel the crunch only now, as health centers that stocked up on cheap birth control run out, the Journal reports. More »

The price of birth control pills have soared for students and low-income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.   (Archive Photos)
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards, is greeted by Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, left, after a speech at the Planned Parenthood...   (Associated Press)
The price of birth control pills have leapt 400% for students and low income women because a change in Medicaid rules inadvertently removed discounts offered to health centers by drug companies.   (Archive Photo)
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college  • women's health  • college student  • birth control  • contraception  • condom  • colleges and universities  • Medicaid  • sexual health  • birth control pills  • birth control pill  • Planned Parenthood  • contraceptive  • contraceptive patch


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