Getting free birth control at the University now comes with a price — your time — and only if you qualify.
The University Health Center will no longer provide free condoms in baskets at various places in doctors’ offices. Instead, the health center fully enacted a new program July 1 known as the Family Planning Expansion Project.
FPEP is a federally funded program under Medicaid that provides free birth control services to men and women in Oregon who qualify.
Under FPEP, students at the University will be required to have a “contraception consultation” with a medical professional at the health center before receiving free condoms and other birth control, Pharmacy Manager Julie Dewshup said.
Health Center Medical Director Gerald Fleischli said the condoms disappeared during spring term amid a number of budget cutbacks. He said the health center actually stopped purchasing condoms last fall, and it took until spring for the supply to run out.
“The school used to have to purchase them,” Fleischli said. “Now FPEP pays the school to purchase them.”
The University is contracted with Planned Parenthood, the organization that received the FPEP grant from the government and is also involved in the program.
Joanne Alba, the education and training specialist at Planned Parenthood, said Planned Parenthood’s clientele has tripled since FPEP went into effect. There are guidelines for receiving services under the FPEP program. According to the health center’s Web site, applicants must be U.S. citizens and Oregon residents younger than 56 years old and make less than 85 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to qualify for these services.
A single person must make less than $1,288 a month to qualify and a family of four less than $2,629.
“We are trying to send a message to students to be responsible and use protection to prevent STDs and pregnancies,” Fleischli said. “I think the availability of FPEP is a very positive thing for the students. We’re pleased to be a part of the program.”
For international students and others who do not qualify for free birth control services under FPEP, there are other resources in the Eugene community.
Alba said free condoms are available at Planned Parenthood’s Eugene and Springfield clinics without a medical consultation.
Although Alba said free condoms are key for students’ sexual health, she added that she wishes students did not have to go through the consultation procedure.
“It’s not a good public health practice,” said Alba, who is a former director of health education services at the University. “If you make people jump through a lot of hoops, they won’t take advantage of the program.”
Junior Justin Hardy agreed with Alba that diminished condom availability may have a negative effect.
“I understand the budget thing, but I don’t know if getting rid of the baskets is a good idea,” he said.
FPEP went into effect under former President Bill Clinton and will last for another two years. After that, President George W. Bush’s administration will be responsible for reinstating the program’s funding.
The health center will monitor the program this year and decide whether it will continue to be a part of FPEP or reinstate the previous program.
“As the budget unfolds, we may be able to offer free condoms again,” Fleischli said.