HPV legislation in New Mexico

Women in Government Ratings

Women in Government, a non-profit network of state level women legislators, receives significant funding from the pharmaceutical industry, including Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and Digene Corporation -- all with products related to HPV vaccination and testing. According to their report, "The 'State' of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America - 2008" :

POPULATION: 1,954,599

Incidence & Mortality (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate: 9.3/100,000 (1 / 2)
• Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate/Race: White: 9.9, Hispanic: 12.5, American Indian/Alaskan: 8.6
• Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate: 2.6/100,000 (1 / 1)
• Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate/Race: White: 2.7, Hispanic: 2.6

Screening (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Cervical Cancer Screening Rate: 83.1% (1 / 1)
• Cervical Cancer Screening Rate/Race: White: 82%, Hispanic: 85.5%, American Indian/Alaskan: 78.4%
• % Uninsured/Unscreened: 28.7% (1 / 1)
• Medicaid Coverage HPV Testing: Unrestricted (2 / 2)

Healthcare Access (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Rate Uninsured Women: 24% (0 / 0)
• % Low Income/Uninsured Women: 42%

Policy Initiatives and Infrastructure (2008 Score / Cumulative Score (2005–2008)

Screening Requirements (0 / 2)

• There are no new screening requirements.

Task Forces (1 / 1)

• SJM 50/HJM 39 support the formation of an HPV Advisory Panel composed of experts in HPV and cervical cancer screening, immunization and adolescent and school-based health and representatives of the NM Immunization Program, the NM Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the public health division of the Dept. of Health, statewide school-based health programs and key healthcare advocacy groups; passed.

Access to HPV Vaccines (2 / 2)

• SB 407 requires individual and group insurance plans and policies to cover the HPV vaccine for girls age 9–14; signed by Gov. Bill Richardson.
• SB 1174 would require female students entering the 6th grade to provide proof of HPV vaccination or written evidence that her parent/guardian declined vaccination after receiving information about HPV and cervical cancer; vetoed by Gov. Richardson.

HPV Vaccine Information Programs (0 / 0)

• There is no HPV vaccine information activity.

Miscellaneous (1 / 1)

• HB 965 would allocates monies from an increased cigarette tax to the Dept. of Health to support public health programs, including cervical cancer vaccination outreach; sent to House Taxation and Revenue Committee.

Annual Ratings

• 2008: Good (12 out of 22 points)
• 2007: Good (10 out of 18 points)

Articles and resources

SourceWatch Resources

• Gardasil
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Merck
• Women in Government
• Edelman
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Australia
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Canada
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Europe
• The Marketing of Gardasil in New Zealand
• The Marketing of Gardasil in the United States
• Direct-to-consumer advertising
• Disease Mongering
• Drug industry

External links

• Judith Siers-Poisson, The Politics and PR of Cervical Cancer, a four part series, PRWatch.org, July, 2007.