According to Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the introduction of The Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will provide a no-cost technical fix to restore eligibility for college health centers and safety-net providers to obtain low-cost birth control, and pass the savings on to college students and low-income women. The bill (HR 398) was introduced by Representative Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and has bipartisan support. Original sponsors of the bill include Representatives Mark Kirk (R-IL), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Charles Dent (R-PA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA).
And it's not just the House that's taking action:
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced the Prevention First Act (S. 21), which also includes a provision to restore access to affordable birth control.
Since the 1970's college health care clinics as well as safety-net providers had been able to purchase birth control inexpensively, passing that savings onto their patents (mainly college students and low-income women) and enabling them to purchase birth control for as little as $5-$10 a month.
However, thanks to the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act, this amenity disappeared and birth control prices skyrocketed -- saddling college students and low income women with prices as high as $50 a month.
So if this passes, birth control would be affordable again! Which would make so much more sense than unaffordable, don't you think?
