Bill Introduced to Restore Campus Contraception Prices

By Rachel Walden — November 5, 2007

Last Thursday, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) introduced HR 4054 in the House of Representatives “To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to restore and protect access to Medicaid discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.” It is being referred to as the “Prevention Through Affordable Access Act.”

In plain language, the bill would restore the ability of colleges and non-profit “safety net” clinics to obtain reduced price contraception from pharmaceutical companies. As noted in a previous post, when the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 took effect this year, it prevented such arrangements and caused birth control prices to spike on college campuses. According to a press release issued by Crowley:

“As a result, many college clinics have stopped making birth control available to their students. For the colleges and universities that still do, prices have shot up from an average of $5 to nearly $50 per month. All told, many hard-working women can no longer access FDA-approved methods of birth control.”

The House bill currently has 103 cosponsors, and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2 responses to “Bill Introduced to Restore Campus Contraception Prices”

  1. It’s already up to 120. The Senate version will be introduced next week. We have until Friday the 16th to get this passed!

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