RD55 - House Bill 2877 (2007): Mandated Coverage for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccinations


Executive Summary:
House Bill 2877 was referred to the Advisory Commission for review by the House Committee on Commerce and Labor during the 2007 Session of the General Assembly of Virginia. House Bill 2877 was introduced by Delegate A. Donald McEachin.

The bill requires insurers proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness policies providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis; corporations providing individual or group subscription contracts; and HMOs providing health care plans to provide coverage for the cost of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for women in accordance with recommendations of the Center of Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The bill prohibits insurers, corporations, or HMOs from imposing any copayment, fee, policy year or calendar year, or other durational limit or maximum for benefits or services that is not equally imposed on all individuals in the same benefit category.

The bill applies to policies, contracts or plans delivered, issued for delivery, reissued, or extended on or after January 1, 2008, or at any time thereafter when any term of the policy, contract or plan is changed or premium adjustments are made. The bill does not apply to short-tem travel, accident only, limited or specified disease, or individual conversion policies or contracts, or policies or contracts designed for issuance to persons eligible for Medicare, or similar coverage under government plans.

The Advisory Commission held a hearing on September 20, 2007 in Richmond to receive public comments on House Bill 2877. Written comments included the signatures of 21 supporters of the bill. The VAHP addressed the Advisory Commission and submitted written comments in opposition of House Bill 2877.

The Advisory Commission voted unimously on November 29, 2007 to recommend against enacting House Bill 2877 (Yes- 0 , No- 10). The members of the Advisory Commission believe that based on information reviewed, there already exists a wide availabilty of coverage through private and public providers, as well as a wide level coverage from insurers.