Contraceptive costs at all-time high

By Grace Clarke

Published April 3, 2007

The cost of oral contraceptives sold on college campuses is reaching an all-time high, and in some cases, is doubling or tripling. The price spike is the result of a bill passed by the U.S. Congress called The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Previously, Medicaid provided incentives to pharmaceutical companies to discount prices to college students, but the new law removes the incentives.

But MU students should not be affected by the changes made by the new law.

"We have not changed our prices in the recent past," said Kathy King, a pharmacist at the University of Missouri Physicians Pharmacy. "I have read about it, but we have not seen a price increase from our wholesaler for this quarter."

Although MU students are enjoying a price break, others nationwide are paying double, and sometimes triple.

"Prices of brand-name contraceptives are going through the roof," said Ted Houston, a part-time pharmacist at Florida State University. "We have been trying to replace it with generics that are equivalent because there are some quality generics out there, which are essentially the same thing minus the brand name."

According to the MU Student Health Center Web site, full-time students are eligible to visit any of the providers at the clinic. Students have expressed interest in the co-pay given to student health insurance holders at both pharmacies — University Hospital's and the University Physician's Building — located on the southern side of campus along Hospital Drive.

A plan similar to Missouri's is offered to students in the Indiana state university system. At Indiana University, where the prices for contraceptives also remain unchanged, students can choose from many available options, including both brand name and generic prescriptions.

Although students at Indiana "seem to be pretty responsible," Brady Luke, a medical secretary at Indiana University-Indianapolis, said she is worried that some students would choose to forego using any contraceptive methods at all.

Most campuses are attempting to increase their stocks of generic medication, whose sales have increased as brand-name medications became more expensive.

"Generics' prices have stayed the same, so that's an option for (students)," said Janelle Lund, a pharmacist at the University of Washington-Seattle's Hall Health Center. "If they have insurance, we utilize that if that's appropriate to save the money."

The Deficit Reduction Act is not surprising, Chicago-based gynecologist Julie Barton said.

"Those kids shouldn't be having sex anyway," Barton said. "Then they wouldn't be having babies."