HPV legislation in Minnesota

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: 5,167,101

Incidence & Mortality (2008 Score / 2007 Score)
 * Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate: 6.7/100,000 (2 / 2)
 * Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate/Race: White: 6.3, Black: 12.5, Hispanic: 14.0
 * Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate: 1.9/100,000 (2 / 2)
 * Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate/Race: White: 1.9, Black: 3.8

Screening (2008 Score / 2007 Score)
 * Cervical Cancer Screening Rate: 86.2% (2 / 2)
 * Cervical Cancer Screening Rate/Race: White: 86.6%
 * % Uninsured/Unscreened: 26.6% (1 / 1)
 * Medicaid Coverage HPV Testing: Unrestricted (2 / 2)

Healthcare Access (2008 Score / 2007 Score)
 * Rate Uninsured Women: 9% (2 / 2)
 * % Low Income/Uninsured Women: 22%

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

Screening Requirements (0 / 1)
 * There are no new screening requirements.

Task Forces (0 / 2)
 * There is no new cervical cancer prevention task force legislation.

Access to HPV Vaccines (1 / 1)
 * HB 530/SB 243 would require female children 12 years and older to receive the HPV vaccine to enroll in school, with provision of exemption upon submission of notarized statement by parents; and the commissioner of health to develop HPV and HPV vaccine education materials for schools; referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

HPV Vaccine Information Programs (0 / 0)
 * There is no HPV vaccine information activity.

Miscellaneous (2 / 2)
 * HB 1078 requires the commissioner of health to conduct a study on the risks and benefits of the HPV vaccine; the availability and effectiveness of the vaccine; the extent to which health plan companies cover the cost of the vaccination; and ways to cover the cost of vaccination for persons without coverage. The commissioner will submit a report to the legislature by February 2008 on the findings of the study and recommendations as to whether the HPV vaccine should be made mandatory statewide; signed by Gov. Pawlenty.

Annual Ratings
 * 2008: Very Good (17 out of 22 points)
 * 2007: Excellent (15 out of 18 points)

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