Post by The University of British Columbia

When BC made prescription contraception free, patient costs dropped sharply. UBC researchers publishing in JAMA Health Forum found out-of-pocket spending fell 83 per cent within two years, without increasing total system costs. The gains were sharpest for people in their 20s: before the policy, about 45 per cent were paying out of pocket. After, that share fell by roughly 33 percentage points. Researchers also found increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs and implants, suggesting the policy improved not just access but quality of care. Manitoba has since introduced a similar program, with early results in line with BC's. Read more: https://bit.ly/43YbkTC UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences