Reproductive rights groups are applauding the passage of federal legislation they say will restore access to affordable birth control.
In 2005, a change in federal law under the Deficit Reduction Act made it so many health clinics could no longer buy reduced-priced drugs from pharmaceutical companies. Nicole Safar with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin says that forced many community and campus health clinics to stop offering cheap birth control medications. As a result, many students and low-income women saw their prescriptions jump in price from $5 a month to $50.
Now, Safar says legislation recently signed by President Obama lifts those restrictions, restoring that low-cost access. Safar says the change will help millions of women who are struggling to keep up with the growing costs of health care. She says it's also a victory for the reproductive rights of women.