Health Center finds cheaper contraception

Although the Student Health Center was considering not carrying certain contraceptives due to rising prices set by drug companies, it is now able to purchase generic brands at lower costs. Fran Drake, director of the Student Health Center, said the Health Center originally started carrying Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo because it was cheaper than the regular Ortho Tri Cyclen. Because of the rising costs, it looked like it was going to be too expensive to carry the Lo version of the contraceptive. Drake said she got in touch with the companies producing generic brands and she was able to get a generic version of the regular Ortho Tri-Cyclen at a considerably cheaper price. The Health Center is able to purchase the generic brand for $12, but the student price will probably be $15, she said. Before the cost change, the Health Center sold it for $10. She said she was also able to get a generic version of Desogen, and the prices before the change, purchase cost and student cost are all the same. Some people may be concerned about products not being name-brand, but "there are no difference in generics," Drake said. There are still contraceptives left from before the switch at the Health Center, and they will have contraceptives available for students to get prescriptions to last them the summer, she said. In addition, "we will continue to do Pap smears, test for STDs, discuss other birth control methods or subsidize the birth control if we need to," she said. If students can't afford to purchase birth control, "we might have to sell it to students at or under the cost of purchase," she said. The Health Center is looking to hire a second nurse practitioner with background experience in women's health. Drake hopes the new nurse might also bring ideas about how to make birth control more affordable and available.