Alaska, Colorado, Oregon Take Actions On HPV Vaccine, Contraception-Related Legislation

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 10 Jun 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent state actions on legislation related to human papillomavirus vaccines and contraception coverage.

• Alaska: The Department of Health and Social Services on Monday announced it has received additional federal funds to provide at least 27,000 doses of Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil to public and private health clinics in the state this year, the Anchorage Daily News reports. According to the health department, the vaccine doses will be distributed at no cost to women and girls ages nine to 18. State health officials in April said no-cost vaccinations would only be available to children covered by Medicaid, Alaska Native and American Indian children, and some uninsured and underinsured children. Laurel Wood, state immunization program manager, said the situation changed due to an unexpected $3 million to $4 million increase in federal funding. State health officials expect about 50% of those eligible will receive the vaccine this year, Wood said (Bluemink, Anchorage Daily News, 6/5).
  
  
• Colorado: Gov. Bill Ritter (D) last week signed a bill (HB 1301) that will require health insurers in the state to cover HPV vaccines, the AP/CBS4Denver.com reports (Lopez, AP/CBS4Denver.com, 5/29). The bill also will require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to implement an HPV education campaign. The Senate last month voted 25-9 to approve the bill. The bill passed in the House in late April (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/8).
  
  
• Oregon: Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) last week signed into law a bill (HB 2700) that will require all health insurance plans in the state that provide prescription drug coverage to include contraceptives, AP/OregonLive.com reports (Cain, AP/OregonLive.com, 5/30). The bill also requires hospitals to inform sexual assault survivors about emergency contraception and make it available upon request. Religious employers are exempt from the law. About half of insurers in the state do not cover prescription contraceptives (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/18). Kulongoski at the signing ceremony said the new law is "fundamentally about women being able to make the best health care decisions for themselves and their families." Supporters of the bill said it will affect nearly 1.5 million women in Oregon who are covered by private health insurance. The measure takes effect Jan. 1, 2008 (AP/OregonLive.com, 5/30).

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