Birth control pill prices just shot up, and clinics have effectively been punched in the stomach by it.
To absorb the higher prices, public clinics are contemplating cutting other services, reducing the hours they’re open, or closing some locations. Some clinics are finding that generic substitutes are difficult to afford. Prices for generic birth control pills vary widely, but many seem to cost between $5 and $18 dollars a pack—not bad compared with retail prices, but far more than clinics were accustomed to paying for Ortho. Some clinics say they will have to stop offering certain classes of birth control pills altogether. This is a problem since women respond differently to different hormonal formulations: One kind of pill may cause breakthrough bleeding, bloating, or moodiness, while another causes no side effects.
Thanks to Slate and Feministing.