One step closer to affordable birth control fix

Planned Parenthood commends Congressman David Obey* for his leadership on behalf of Wisconsin women and their families.  Please send a thank you to Congressman Obey for his efforts to ensure the affordable birth control pricing fix was included in the budget bill passed in the U.S. House.

Planned Parenthood has been working to restore access to affordable birth control for years after a legislative error caused the price of birth control to skyrocket by up to 900% for many low-income women and college students.  The no-cost fix to this problem has passed the House of Representatives, and a vote is expected in the U.S. Senate later this week.


* Congressman Obey (D-WI) is the Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank you for helping to restore affordable birth control pricing

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for your leadership to ensure the affordable birth control pricing fix was included in the final version of the House appropriations bill. As you know, a legislative error in 2005 caused the price of birth control to skyrocket by up to 900 percent for many low-income women and college students. The passing of the pricing fix is a necessity for thousands of women across Wisconsin, and millions more in our country, who are struggling with the rising costs of basic health care through these tough economic times.

Thank you again for your efforts on behalf of Wisconsin women and their families.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 10, 2009


Background Information

» The common-sense, no-cost pricing increase fix addresses a technical mistake made by Congress in 2005 that inadvertently cut off some safety net providers and every single college and university health center from obtaining contraception at low cost, and passing on those savings to their patients.

» Some women who were paying $5 to $10 per month are now paying $40 to $50 for birth control. For the college students and low-income women affected by this cost hike, that's no small matter.

» The passing of the affordable birth control pricing fix is a necessity for millions of women across the country who are struggling to afford the rising costs of basic contraception in these tough economic times.

» The pricing fix has already passed the U.S. House.  A vote in the U.S. Senate is expected later this week.  And President Obama strongly supports access to affordable birth control.

» Learn more