Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Editor's note: The following letter is in response to "Controlling the money" by Feana Kotter, which appeared in the March 28 issue of the WC.
Birth control prices on college campuses have increased upwards of 100 percent due to the pharmaceutical industry's response to actions undertaken by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). No matter who is at fault - CMS or the pharmaceutical industry - the health insurance industry, both private and public, should take note. Preventing pregnancies is far cheaper than the medical costs associated with unintended pregnancies.
Recent published research shows that the direct medical costs of unintended pregnancies in the United States were estimated to be $5 billion per year, while direct medical cost savings due to contraceptive use were estimated to be $19 billion.
Both Medicaid and the private health insurance industry are likely to spend significantly more for unintended pregnancies than they would have spent on contraceptive coverage. An ounce of prevention, indeed!
- James Trussell
PhD Director, Princeton University's Office of Population Research Member, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
- Wayne Shields
President & CEO, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Birth control prices on college campuses have increased upwards of 100 percent due to the pharmaceutical industry's response to actions undertaken by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). No matter who is at fault - CMS or the pharmaceutical industry - the health insurance industry, both private and public, should take note. Preventing pregnancies is far cheaper than the medical costs associated with unintended pregnancies.
Recent published research shows that the direct medical costs of unintended pregnancies in the United States were estimated to be $5 billion per year, while direct medical cost savings due to contraceptive use were estimated to be $19 billion.
Both Medicaid and the private health insurance industry are likely to spend significantly more for unintended pregnancies than they would have spent on contraceptive coverage. An ounce of prevention, indeed!
- James Trussell
PhD Director, Princeton University's Office of Population Research Member, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
- Wayne Shields
President & CEO, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Forhim922
Patrick
posted 4/04/07 @ 10:30 AM CST
Wouldn't just not having sex also prevent "unintended pregnancies." People do not have to have sex. Just a thought.
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