With college student health centers across the country facing price hikes for contraceptives, the University branch of the group Voices for Planned Parenthood, or Vox, is starting a campaign to spread awareness of these cost increases on Grounds.
The ultimate goal of the University's branch of Vox is to communicate with Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., about the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, the enactment of which would address cost increases, according to Sarah Benckart, president of Vox at the University.
Benckart said this effort to speak with legislators about contraceptive prices is not limited to the University.
"The objectives around the country ... are to raise awareness and to call and lobby elected officials across the country to raise support within the population and among legislators," Benckart said.
Prices for oral contraceptives have significantly risen since the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 went into effect in 2007, according to Benckart.
By changing how pharmaceutical company rebates are calculated, Benckart said, the act has made it expensive for companies to sell contraceptives at a discount to university student health centers. At some institutes of higher education, such as Virginia Tech, prices for certain contraceptives have nearly tripled from $14 to $42, according to John Hunter, Virginia Tech Schiffert Health Center pharmacy supervisor.
Prices have not increased significantly at the University, mainly because Student Health's affiliation with the University Medical Center has allowed Student Health to continue purchasing contraceptives at reduced cost, according to Student Health pharmacist Marie Bailey. Prices range anywhere from $14 to $65, depending on whether the contraceptives are generic or a brand name, she said.
"I think our prices are pretty reasonable," Bailey said. "They've been steady in the last year, and there are lots of generic alternatives if you're looking for a lower price."
Bailey said Student Health has not seen variation in the number of students buying contraceptives, but changes have been noticed at Virginia Tech.
According to Hunter, many students have switched from brand names to the cheaper generic contraceptives and are using their parents' insurance to help cover the cost.
"We're trying to offer lots of generics and the lowest prices that we can," Hunter said. "But there's a limited number we can offer."
Although he said generic contraceptives are equally effective as the brand names, Hunter cautioned that contraceptives are patient-specific, noting a doctor should be consulted before use.
Benckart said because prices have not significantly increased at the University, many students are unaware of how the rising costs are affecting others in the commonwealth and across the country. According to a press release from Planned Parenthood, more than 3 million college students and hundreds of thousands of low-income women have lost access to affordable birth control.
"On a practical level, it's important to raise awareness because it may affect people when they go home on summer vacation, for example," Benckart said. "On an ideological level, it's our belief that these services should be available to everyone."
Benckart said Voices for Planned Parenthood at the University will be tabling on the Lawn during the next two months to raise awareness and encourage students to lobby Warner.
"We're going to continue to call and lobby elected officials," Benckart said. "It's definitely a priority"
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