The Observer, March 30, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 22
Legislation causes University Health Services price increases
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For the past several years, Sara Segel has gone to University Health Services (UHS) for her contraceptive needs. The discreet service, the on-campus convenience, and the very affordable prices have made her a loyal customer for most of her time at Case. But now the senior music major has had to find an alternative health care source, thanks to a dramatic price increase in the pharmacological birth control methods offered by UHS. "I feel that this is vital to my life as a woman, so I'm going to continue to use it no matter what the cost. Yes, it's going to affect me financially, but I'll manage," Segel said.
The price increase comes as a shock to many, including the staff at UHS. "We were informed of the price increase only a few days before we placed an order from our supplier, so we had no time to stockpile any of the medications," nurse Sonia Chapnick, UHS Health Programs Specialist said, on Friday. She declined to cite any specific prices, stating that most were currently in a state of flux, but said that students could expect prices across the board to increase. Chapnick continued, "we have some supplies left of a couple of our less popular items, but we don't expect them to last past the end of the school year."
The sudden increase in price is due to the Federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). Prior to this piece of legislation, campus health clinics qualified for deeply discounted prescription drugs under section 340B of Medicare. Section 340B capped the price drug companies could charge certain healthcare agencies, including campus health clinics; in return, drug companies received various incentives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When the DRA took effect in January 2007, those incentives disappeared, resulting in much higher costs to campus clinics. "At $10 per pack, the sale of birth control helped us defray costs of other services offered at the clinic," Chapnick said. "Now that the prices have gone up and we are offering them at cost only, we cannot predict how that is going to affect our other services."
Case students seeking cheaper birth control have a variety of options. Chapnick highlighted the fact that condoms are still $2 per dozen from UHS, and free from the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women in Thwing. Some students' health insurance may cover certain options, but coverage and co-pays vary widely by plan, and most pharmacies do not provide price quotes based on insurance plans over the phone. The cash price for most options was quoted at $30 to $50 per month, depending on pharmacy and specific drug desired. Walgreen's allegedly offers birth control options for a $10 co-pay to Case students on the Case University Health Plan, but several students, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that Walgreen's charged them higher rates. The Walgreen's at Mayfield and Superior refused comment, citing their inability to give to insurance quotes without a policy card in front of them.
Chapnick said several students have asked what they can do about this policy. "Writing a letter to your senator or politician is a good start. Many advocacy sites have pre-printed letters on the web, where all you have to do is sign your name and put on a stamp." More information on various aspects of women's health advocacy, including birth control, can be found at sites such as Planned Parenthood (http://www.plannedparenthood.org) and the American College Health Association (http://www.acha.org).
