1. Women In Government Partnering for Progress 2007: The 'State' of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America
Objectives:
Sarah Wells
Associate Director
Women In Government
X 213

2. About Women In Government
Women In Government Mission/Vision
Focus on a broad variety of public policy issues in health and other sectors
Key policy areas
Education
Health
Our members: women state legislators
Over 1700 women in state legislatures (23.5%)[1]
[1] Center for American Women in Politics, 2007.
Women currently hold 422, or 21.4%, of the 1,971 state senate seats and 1,311, or 24.2%, of the 5,411 state house or assembly seats. Since 1971, the number of women serving in state legislatures has more than quintupled.
States with highest numbers of women state legislators: Vermont (37.8%), followed by, New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, Maryland, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Delaware.
States with lowest numbers of women state legislators: South Carolina (8.8%), followed by Kentucky, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia
Georgia = 19.5 % women, ranked 31 in nation

3. About Women In Government
Women In Government Activities
25 educational conferences each year
Resource Centers
HPV & Cervical Cancer Policy Resource Center
Access to Higher Education Policy Research Center
Kidney Health Policy Resource Center
Medicare Preventive Services Policy Resource Center
Building Partnerships
UICC, Women Work, C-Change, Mental Health America, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Excelencia in Education, Education Commission of the States, Women’s Legislative Network of National Conference of State Legislatures
Women In Government has realized the importance of collaboration among all interested parties—from state legislators, to public health officials, to the medical community—in the effort to prevent cervical cancer. Collaboration and partnership serve as the foundation of our “Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer Campaign.” Women In Government actively brings stakeholders together on this issue through the Campaign and the Annual Cervical Cancer & HPV Task Force and Summit. We believe that by working together with common goals and vision, we can eliminate this deadly disease.
Women In Government believes that no single person or entity can achieve success on this issue alone. Therefore, the focus of the 2007 state by state comparison report we produced, was “collaboration” and we strongly recommend that stakeholders work together in their efforts to eliminate this preventable disease. We are committed to collaboration and invite all interested parties to join us at our Annual HPV and Cervical Cancer Summit, which provides an opportunity for education and dialogue on this important issue.

4. Challenge to Eliminate Cervical
Women In Government
Challenge to Eliminate Cervical
Cancer Campaign

5. Development & Launch of the Campaign
Held educational conferences about HPV and cervical cancer in 2003
Created Women In Government’s HPV & Cervical Cancer State Legislative Task Force
Messages
Ensure that all women are educated about cervical cancer and the virus that causes it, HPV.
Ensure access to advanced and appropriate screening & vaccination technologies and public health programs.
Assist policymakers in evaluating current practices and policy throughout the states.

6. Campaign Policy Statement
Women In Government believes policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to address cervical cancer prevention by raising awareness and education in their states – with the goal of providing all constituents with access to the most advanced and appropriate preventive technologies, including HPV testing and vaccination, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or other factors.
In January 2003, Women In Government introduced the topic of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer to state legislators at the 9th Annual State Directors’ Conference.
Following this introduction, Women In Government and North Carolina Legislators held a “state briefing” on the status of cervical cancer in North Carolina.
To broaden legislative attention to the issue, Women In Government held its first Cervical Cancer Task Force Meeting March 21-23, 2003.
Advanced and Appropriate, how is this determined?
-reviewing literature in leading heath publications and journals
-consultation with expert researchers and clinicians (through speaking at WIG conferences)
-consultation with other leading advocacy organizations

7. Educational Tools HPV & Cervical Cancer Policy Resource Center
Legislative toolkit
Educational materials (brochures, fact sheets, etc.)
Medical guidelines and background materials
Toll-free hotline for policymakers
Annual State-by-state comparison report on progress made in prevention
Conferences
Annual HPV & Cervical Cancer Summit
Annual HPV & Cervical Cancer State Legislative Task Force
Educational segments at additional conference

9. Report Methodology Nine factors were analyzed: Incidence Mortality
Pap screening rates
Screening rates for uninsured women
Medicaid coverage of HPV testing
Rate of uninsured women
Legislation mandating cervical cancer screening coverage
Legislation creating cervical cancer task forces/commissions
Miscellaneous legislation

10. Report Methodology
Each factor was scored from 0 to 2 points, for a total of 18 possible points (100%)
Excellent
Grades of 84% to 100%, 15 to 18 points
Very Good
Grades of 67% to 83%, 12 to 14 points
Good
Grades of 50% to 66%, 9 to 11 points
Fair
Grades below 50%, less than 9 points

11. Key Report Findings
For the first time, one state- Minnesota- received a grade of excellent
A majority of states and the District of Columbia saw a decrease in both cervical cancer incidence and mortality
Just under half of the states (49%) experienced an increase in the rate of uninsured women
State legislators continue to advance policies to address cervical cancer prevention
Disparities continue to exist in terms of incidence, mortality, and screening at the national level

12. 2007 State Report Grades

13. Women In Government Policy Recommendations
States should form ensure that statewide cervical cancer task forces or other proactive accountable entities are informed about and address new information and data about cervical cancer/HPV, including opportunities to establish an adolescent “well visit.” States should consider legislative action that may be required to update and extend the parameters of task force timeline, members, etc.
States should maximize resources and direct dedicated funding streams to support program infrastructure and provide education to policymakers about VFC and 317 funding. State departments of health should develop and implement plans to ensure all girls and women aged 9 through 26 have access to and receive FDA-approved cervical cancer/HPV vaccines, with an emphasis on the routine vaccination of 11 and 12-year-old girls.
From WIG’s report: Partnering For Progress 2007: The “State” of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America

14. Women In Government Policy Recommendations Continued
Recognizing that requiring vaccines for school entry has helped to provide equal access to critical immunizations throughout history, regardless of one’s socioeconomic status, or other factors, states should consider including HPV vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancer, for girls entering middle school, in conjunction with other vaccines required at this time, with the same parental opt out in accordance with states’ existing exemption allowances (e.g., medical, religious and/or philosophical).
States should strongly encourage insurance providers to adequately cover FDA-approved cervical cancer/HPV vaccines, Pap tests and HPV tests. States should also authorize health departments and other health centers to establish a process to bill private insurance providers for services rendered. States should encourage employers to buy plans with HPV screening and vaccine inclusion.

15. Women In Government Policy Recommendations Continued
States should require Medicaid to cover FDA-approved cervical cancer/HPV vaccines for eligible year-old women. States should ensure that public health programs (screening and vaccination) are adequately funded and utilized to ensure that all other uninsured or underinsured females have access to cervical cancer/HPV vaccination and screening, with a goal of eliminating healthcare disparities (based on income, geographic location, country of origin, race/culture or other factors) and reaching these underinsured and uninsured populations.
States should develop awareness campaigns to educate the public about cervical cancer/HPV. Existing statewide entities focused on cancer prevention and/or health should take the lead on developing, partnering with other like-minded organizations and executing programs to educate and involve stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, providers, parents, men, women, school administrators, advocacy groups, etc.) about cervical cancer, HPV, and the role of available preventive technologies. States should help women ages identify the questions they should ask regarding their cervical health and inform women who are eligible for Medicare about available screening benefits. Legislators need to be educated to assure already budgeted monies are not supplanted by additional appropriations or donations.

16. HPV Vaccine School Entry Requirements
HPV Vaccine Information Programs
Unrestricted Medicaid Coverage of HPV Testing
Medicaid Coverage/State Funding for the HPV vaccine
Statewide Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force/Accountable Entity
Compulsory HPV Testing Insurance Reimbursement
Compulsory HPV Vaccine Insurance Reimbursement

17. Getting Involved
Educate policymakers, women, girls, parents, healthcare providers, etc
HPV, cervical cancer, the role of vaccines and the importance of continued screening
Develop policies to create public education programs
Work with existing programs
Building Political Will
Commitment to support a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer prevention
Work with the areas that are not implementing programs
Start over again – back to the areas that have implemented prevention and screening strategies in order to implement vaccines

18. Collaboration is Key
Women In Government has established important partnerships with national organizations including:
The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation
National Association of City and County Health Officials
American Medical Women’s Association
Popsmear.Org & Survivor Christine Baze
National Council of Women’s Organizations
Tamika & Friends
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Nueva Vida
The Balm in Gilead
Nueva Vida: The mission of Nueva Vida is to inform, support and empower Latinas whose lives are affected by cancer, and to advocate for and facilitate the timely access to state of the art cancer care, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and care for all Latinas.

19. Thank You http://www.womeningovernment.org/prevention Sarah Wells
Associate Director
Women In Government
2600 Virginia Ave., NW
Suite 709
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: X 213
Fax: