Actions Taken On Women's Health-Related Legislation, Programs In Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Abortion;  Breast Cancer;  Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 21 Jun 2007 - 6:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The following highlights recent news of state and local actions on women's health-related issues.

Abortion

• Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia City Council on Thursday voted 13-4 to rescind a resolution stating that the city supports "women's reproductive rights and freedom" and defends "the right to choose a legal and safe abortion as a final but critical option for women," the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The original resolution, sponsored by council member Blondell Reynolds Brown, passed by a 9-8 vote. Five council members changed their votes after the resolution was criticized by the public and a Roman Catholic Cardinal Justin Rigali. According to the Inquirer, the resolution would have had no effect on city policy. Council member Brian O'Neill on Thursday withdrew a proposal that would have declared Philadelphia a "pro-choice and pro-life" city, the Inquirer reports (Kerkstra, Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/15).

Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening

• Texas: Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Thursday signed into law a Medicaid reform measure (SB 10) that will qualify more women for the state's Breast and Cervical Cancer Services program, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports (Brown, AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/14). President Bush in April signed into law a bill (HR 1132) that reauthorized CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which provides Pap tests and other screenings for qualified women ages 18 to 64 and mammograms for qualified women ages 40 to 64. To qualify, women must be uninsured and have annual incomes lower than 250% of the federal poverty level. Under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, enacted in 2000, states can request an expansion of their Medicaid programs to include uninsured women younger than age 65 diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Women who qualify receive medical coverage throughout their cancer treatment, with the federal government covering up to 85% of the cost of treatment (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/23). According to the Texas bill, women who qualify for the state program are eligible to receive the coverage regardless of the availability of federal matching funds (SB 10 text, 6/18).

HPV Vaccines

• Nevada: Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) on Thursday signed into law a bill (SB 409) that will require most insurance companies in the state to cover HPV vaccines for girls and women ages nine to 26, the AP/Nevada Appeal reports (Mullin, AP/Nevada Appeal, 6/14). The Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee approved the bill in May after Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley (D) made a motion to combine it with a separate bill (SB 113) that mandates coverage for prostate screenings. The combined legislation includes a provision that requires self-funded health plans to cover the vaccine. Funding for HPV vaccines has been included in budgets for the state's Medicaid and SCHIP programs (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/24).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations