Spring Break
Cost of birth control on rise at URI
Bridgette Blight
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
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11/29/07 - The cost of contraceptives is on the rise at the University of Rhode Island because of a federal law that became effective on Jan. 1, 2008. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 eliminated the practice of drug manufacturers providing discounted medications to college and community health centers.
Chad Henderson, director of URI Health Services and president-elect of the American College Health Association, said college health centers were given warning about the new law going into effect. URI purchased large quantities of the discounted pills to delay the onset of the price increase.
Come Jan. 1, Henderson said Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, one of the most popular birth control pills at URI, will almost quadruple in price. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo costs $10 for a one-month supply. Henderson estimates the discounted pills will run out by Jan 1. When students return from winter break, they will most likely have to pay $38 for the same medication.
While students taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo have yet to feel the cost increase, the effects have already impacted URI.
"Before, 90 percent of the contraceptives we offered were in the $10 to $15 range," Henderson said. "Now, 90 percent are in the $20 range."
The staff of the pharmacy at the Potter Building is warning students that prices of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo will increase drastically once discounted supplies run out. There is no generic equivalent for the medication. Students that cannot afford the higher cost will have to switch to a different prescription and possibly deal with side effects from switching birth control pills. Cyclessa is the only contraception that will cost $10 after URI's discounted supply of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo runs out.
With the price increases, Henderson said some students might be better off purchasing contraception through their parents' insurance.
"Drugstore prices had been higher," he said. "Chains like CVS and Rite-Aid negotiate their own prices and add a markup. Now it might be more economical [to get contraception through a drugstore]."
Chad Henderson, director of URI Health Services and president-elect of the American College Health Association, said college health centers were given warning about the new law going into effect. URI purchased large quantities of the discounted pills to delay the onset of the price increase.
Come Jan. 1, Henderson said Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, one of the most popular birth control pills at URI, will almost quadruple in price. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo costs $10 for a one-month supply. Henderson estimates the discounted pills will run out by Jan 1. When students return from winter break, they will most likely have to pay $38 for the same medication.
While students taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo have yet to feel the cost increase, the effects have already impacted URI.
"Before, 90 percent of the contraceptives we offered were in the $10 to $15 range," Henderson said. "Now, 90 percent are in the $20 range."
The staff of the pharmacy at the Potter Building is warning students that prices of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo will increase drastically once discounted supplies run out. There is no generic equivalent for the medication. Students that cannot afford the higher cost will have to switch to a different prescription and possibly deal with side effects from switching birth control pills. Cyclessa is the only contraception that will cost $10 after URI's discounted supply of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo runs out.
With the price increases, Henderson said some students might be better off purchasing contraception through their parents' insurance.
"Drugstore prices had been higher," he said. "Chains like CVS and Rite-Aid negotiate their own prices and add a markup. Now it might be more economical [to get contraception through a drugstore]."
