Birth control prices at MU stay consistent
MU pharmacy avoids price increase on birth control that sweeps schools.
Aug. 24, 2007
During a press conference Monday afternoon, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri CEO Peter Brownlie addresses the brief that Planned Parenthood filed in federal court. The brief requests an injunction against a House bill that requires health centers to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.
Although birth control prices have increased in schools across the country, they haven't changed since last year at MU's pharmacy.
A deficit reduction law enacted in 2005 that regulates who is entitled to reduced-cost health care is coming into effect this year and has raised the prices of birth control at universities across the nation, a letter from the American College Health Association stated to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.
Tom McSherry, a pharmacist at the MU pharmacy, said birth control prices at the MU pharmacy, which range from $18 to $50 a month, have not increased since last year.
University Hospital spokesman Jeff Hoelscher said he thinks the reason birth control prices have not gone up at the MU pharmacy, which is campus-owned but serves faculty and staff as well as students, is because the pharmacy never sold the drugs at the reduced rate.
The letter states that ACHA members should be sold oral contraceptives at the reduced rate.
"Many students simply cannot afford increases in the cost of their contraceptive drugs in the face of sharp increases in the cost of their education," the letter states.
Although birth control prices haven't fluctuated, a plan to put free condoms in residence halls has been waiting for Chancellor Brady Deaton's approval since spring.
Phi Beta Sigma fraternity proposed a plan to put free condoms in the residence halls last fall.
Soon after, Deaton halted the plan and said it needed more discussion.
Assistant to the Deputy Chancellor Roger Worthington led a series of dialogues about the feasibility of condoms in the residence halls and concluded that the availability of condoms is useful and warranted and the main concern was safety.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs formed the Residence's Sexual Health and Safety Products Task Force to formulate a cost-effective plan that would address the safety issues.
At the end of the last school year, the committee submitted a plan to put 14 machines around campus.
Scroggs declined to speak to The Maneater directly. In July, she said the plan was waiting for Deaton's approval to move to the next stage.
In a February report, Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said the group would ideally plan to implement the plan beginning this semester.
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