Legislation enacted in January that caused the price of birth control on college campuses to rise continues to frustrate both students and some health educators, who say the price hike is endangering students' health.

On Jan. 1, a special provision of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act went into effect, excluding student health facilities -- such as University Health Services (UHS) -- from receiving discounted prices on some medications, including hormonal birth control. Several medications, including Ortho Tri-Cylcen Lo, NuvaRing, Desogen and Ortho Evra, have increased to more than $50 per package from less than $20.

The increase in price came as a surprise to students like Samantha Roof (freshman-division of undergraduate studies).

Roof went to her appointment with UHS to discuss birth control options with a doctor. After extensive consideration they decided on NuvaRing. It was at this point that Roof and her doctor found out about the sudden price increase.

"I'd decided on what I wanted, and my doctor went to get a trial pack for me," Roof said. "When she came back, she told me about the price hike, apologizing and saying that this was the first time she'd heard of it. I couldn't afford the brand I wanted anymore so I had to settle for a different option I knew nothing about."

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 was passed to slow the pace of Medicaid and Medicare spending over a five-year period and affects more medication than just birth control.

The American College Health Association (ACHA) is concerned with the effects this legislation might have on student health, said Mary Hoban, director of the ACHA National College Health Assessment Program.

"The impact is two-fold," Hoban said. "Not only is it inhibiting students' access to the most reliable birth control, but the income college health facilities received funded other sexual health education and things like affordable PAP Smears."

The ACHA went to Capitol Hill on Feb. 9 to meet with the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, asking the committee to consider a "technical correction" to the provision, which would allow for college health facilities to receive discounted birth control, Hoban said.

Linda LaSalle, UHS health educator, joined the ACHA on Capitol Hill to fight the legislation.

"We've become collateral damage from the legislation, inadvertently put on the chopping block," LaSalle said.

LaSalle said the ACHA hopes to see progress toward a technical correction by late summer.

The Senate Finance Committee has insisted the legislation is not a conservative attack on birth control and the effects felt by college health services are because of its popularity for that specific demographic.

Some students, such as Sarah Popvich (sophomore-public relations), are baffled and outraged by the legislation.

"That just doesn't seem like a reasonable explanation ... at all," she said.

Under the provision, drug companies must now charge the maximum price that is reimbursable through Medicare and Medicaid.

"It almost seems like this is all promoting not using [birth control]," Popvich said.

While students adjust to the price hikes, UHS has offered some suggestions.

"Girls can work with their clinicians toward a less expensive option, such as a generic brand," LaSalle said.

For example, brand name Ortho-Cept is $56.99 while Apri, its generic brand, is only $29.09, according to CVS Pharmacy, 116 W. College Ave.

Doctors also suggest that women ask their partners to split the cost with them to alleviate the stress of high-cost protection, LaSalle said.

The ACHA is currently considering an advocacy campaign for students to write letters to their representatives on Capitol Hill to express how the legislation is affecting them.

"But we're hoping we won't have to go that far," LaSalle said.