Louisiana Lawmakers Debate Insurance Mandate For HPV Vaccine Coverage

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 30 Jan 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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Legislators in Louisiana on Tuesday debated whether to require that insurance companies cover the cost of vaccinating teen and pre-teen girls against human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. The discussion, which was held in a specially called joint meeting of the House and Senate insurance committees, was initiated by a 2008 regular session House study request that asked lawmakers to examine mandating insurance coverage for the vaccine in girls as young as age 11 or 12. Although most insurance companies already provide coverage for the vaccine, state Rep. Juan LaFonta (D) -- who requested the study -- said that he was concerned about the small percentage that do not.

According to Joia Crear Perry, director of clinical services for the New Orleans Public Health Department, Medicaid already covers the $360 cost of a three-shot HPV vaccine, which is less expensive than treating the virus itself. LaFonta said that there is a coverage gap for college students who do not qualify for Medicaid. Rep. Kirk Talkbot (R) said that individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid should be able to afford to pay for the vaccine out of pocket. According to Perry, Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of cervical cancer deaths in the U.S. She added that girls should receive the vaccine at the ages of 11 or 12 prior to becoming sexually active. LaFonta said he intends to pursue legislation in 2010 to mandate coverage, adding that he is waiting to introduce the measure because of the state's impending health care budget crisis.

According to the Advocate, many opponents of the mandate say it could lead to increased sexual activity among teenagers. Sen. Gerald Long (R) said it "would seem to me" that such a mandate would "almost tell our young people, 'It's OK. It's OK to practice sex.'" Gene Mills of the Louisiana Family Forum also said that a public policy regarding an HPV vaccine would lead teens to think it is acceptable to have sex. Mills said, "People don't die because they didn't get a vaccine. They die because they have multiple sexual partners encouraged by the early onset of sexual activity." However, Sen. J.P. Morrell (D) said that the number of lives that could be saved and the cost savings outweigh the concerns regarding teen sexual behavior (Millhollon, Baton Rouge Advocate, 1/28).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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