Ortho Lowers Pill Prices

DATE: August 29, 2006
TO:   Delegate Agencies, Board of Directors, Advocates and Staff
FROM: Jennifer Sigafoos, Director of Public Policy
RE:   Ortho Lowers Pill Prices for Public Health Clinics

As most of you are aware, on July 1st Ortho-McNeil increased its prices for contraceptives to public health clinics steeply- in some cases by as much as 800 percent. Many clinics were struggling to deal with both the increased prices of the brand names and the shortages of available generic pills.   

I know many of you made calls to Ortho and to the media, making the case for clinic pricing.  NFPRHA has told us today that, thanks to all of our combined efforts, Ortho has lowered its prices for contraceptives for clinics that are public health service (PHS) eligible. Ortho's new prices reflect a 92-94 percent discount off list price.  The following five oral contraceptives will each be priced at $3.20 per cycle:

ORTHO-NOVUM 7/7/7
ORTHO-CYCLEN
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN
ORTHO MICRONOR
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO

These new prices will go into effect within the next two days for all PHS eligible clinics.  Thanks to Ortho for standing by its long-standing commitment to women's health by ensuring that all women have access to their contraceptive products.

No on 85 Speakers Training

DATE:  September 5, 2006
TO:    Advocates and Staff
FROM:  Yvette Jorgensen, Public Policy Analyst
RE:    No on 85 Speakers Training

For the second time in two years, the so-called "parental involvement" initiative is on the California ballot.  Proposition 85 endangers California's most vulnerable teens by requiring parental notification prior to abortion.  Parents want to be involved in their teenagers' lives, but laws cannot mandate family communication.  The real answer to reducing teen pregnancies is strong, caring families, comprehensive sex education, and access to contraception.  California has reduced teen pregnancy rates by nearly 40% over the past decade without laws like this.

Join us for an educational forum and speakers training on September 15, 2006 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the California Family Health Council’s Los Angeles office.  Bring your lunch and learn more about Proposition 85.  Get trained on how to speak confidently on it.  Find out how you can help us defeat it.  We Need Your Help to Keep Teens Safe! 

Educational Forum & Speakers Training
Friday, September 15th
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
CFHC’s Board Room
3600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90010

RSVP to Yvette at jorgenseny@cfhc.org or (213) 386-5614 ext.4519.