WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation to restore access to affordable birth control on college campuses.  The bill, the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, would allow drug companies to again offer college clinics and safety net healthcare providers a significantly discounted rate on birth control purchases.  This reduced price allowed those providers to offer low cost birth control to their patients who often cannot afford to pay full price for contraceptives.  

A provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that went into effect this year, mistakenly prevented drug companies from continuing to offer this discounted birth control (for unrelated reasons Capps opposed the DRA of 2005).  As a result, many college clinics can no longer afford to provide birth control to their students.  For student health centers and other clinics that still offer birth control, the prices have increased astronomically from an average of $5 to nearly $50 per month.  The increased costs have made it more difficult for many women to obtain safe and effective birth control. 

“Students shouldn’t have to pay such a steep price for a bureaucratic oversight,” said Capps.  “No one wants women who can’t afford birth control to suffer the consequences of an unintended pregnancy.  This common sense legislation will take quick action to fix this serious problem.  I hope this bill moves quickly through the legislative process so we restore access to safe, effective and affordable birth control for women across the country.”  

“Access to affordable birth control is critical to our efforts to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies,” said Christine Lyon, Vice President External Affairs, Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo Counties, In.  “When high costs put birth control out of the reach of many college students and low income women that defeats the purpose of prevention programs.  Bravo to Rep. Capps and Congress for wanting to fix an unintentional mishap."

The Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, which already has 101 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, would correct this bureaucratic oversight and once again allow pharmaceutical companies to sell birth control at a discounted rate to college clinics and safety-net healthcare providers.  This much needed correction comes at no cost to taxpayers.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.