Health
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“HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, as over 80% of American females are infected at some point in their lives,” Wiggins said. “HPV has also been identified as the primary cause of cervical cancer, which was once the number one cause of cancer deaths among women in the U.S.”
The senator added that a 2007 survey of California health plans found that an estimated 27,400 privately-insured females aged 11 to 26 years lack coverage for the HPV vaccine and would gain coverage as a result of this bill. She said that “SB 158 will ensure all young women with health insurance are covered.”
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), there are more than 100 types of HPVs, nearly a third of which can be transmitted sexually. Most HPV infections occur without any symptoms and go away without treatment. Both "high-risk" and "low-risk" HPVs can cause the growth of abnormal cells, but generally only high-risk HPVs lead to cancer, including cervical, anal, and penile cancer.
Of the women who develop abnormal cervical cell changes with high-risk HPVs, only a small percentage develop cervical cancer if the abnormal cells are not removed. Approximately 90% percent of new HPV infections clear within two years.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an estimated 6.2 million new HPV infections occur every year among persons aged 14 to 44 years in the U.S. Of these, 74 percent occur among those aged 15 to 24 years.
Estimates suggest that over 80 percent of sexually active women will have acquired genital HPV by age 50.
A 2007 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the prevalence of HPV infection in the U.S. was highest among 20 to 24 year olds (45%). For females 14 to 24 years, the overall HPV prevalence was estimated at 34 percent.
The California Department of Public Health estimates that there may be approximately 900,000 females ages 14 to 24 with an HPV infection. Approximately 372,000 California females ages 14 to 59 have a vaccine-preventable HPV infection.
Wiggins represents California’s 2nd Senate District, comprised of portions or all of six counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.
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Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s inaugural Find Your Fun Expo for Kids will be held Saturday, May 9, at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Kids choose their fun by registering for sessions in advance. The goal is to help kids find an activity that they love to do that will help them lead a healthy, active life.
Local sports teams, athletes, coaches, and experts will be volunteering to teach the basics of their sport or activity. Sessions will be geared toward beginners.
Volunteers include coaches and swimmers from the Channel Cats Swim Team, Luanne from Luanne’s Gymnastics, Aaron Jameson from FightSport & Fitness, skateboarders from Freedom Skateboard Shop, plus the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
The fee for the full day of fun is $25, with scholarships available.
The Find Your Fun Expo for Kids is part of the larger Health & Wellness Expo at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Adult wellness activities and a Busy Bees Center for 4 through 6 year olds will be held throughout the day at the hospital campus on May 9.
For more information about any of the kids activities, please call the Healthy Kids Are Contagious team at 707-262-5039 or e-mail
For information about adult wellness activities, please contact the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Wellness Center at 262-5171 or visit www.sutterlakeside.org.
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The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and Disability Rights California (DRC) commend the committee on protecting the rights of people living with disabilities and encourage the full Assembly to pass this important piece of legislation when it comes to vote later this month.
Whether one is born with or acquires a health condition later in life, there are many reasons why someone might need help with such basic functions as breathing, getting around, or using the restroom. To cope with these issues, patients use a variety of devices such as crutches, oxygen devices, wheelchairs, blood glucose monitors, hospital beds, walkers, and other reusable medical equipment.
While public insurance programs such as Medi-Cal and Medicare fully cover DME, up to 90 percent of California’s private group health insurance plans now have an annual $2000 benefit limit on DME that cannot be carried forward from one year to the next.
Individual health insurance plans often have an annual DME benefit cap imposed in addition to hefty monthly premiums and high deductibles. Over half of California’s three million people with disabilities have private heath insurance and an estimated 326,000 work age (18-64) Californians need some form of DME.
AB 214 requires health insurers to provide coverage of DME in group and individual plans, and prevents plans from placing special coverage limitations on DME. The bill will not change the general requirement that DME must be medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed health care provider before it is covered by private insurance.
The bill is authored by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro (D-Arcada) and co-sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - California Action Network, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), and Disability Rights California (DRC).
“Without this bill, people with disabilities and their families will continue to go into debt and be forced to forego saving for their future retirement or their children’s education in order to purchase this equipment,” says Assemblyman Chesbro. “This much-needed bill will dramatically decrease out-of-pocket spending for people with disabilities and reduce the financial hardship associated with their health condition and will hardly make a dent in overall private insurance costs.”
“The durable equipment cost limit has been a big problem for me,” says Jonathan Austin of Oakland who has been living with MS since 1998. “My physical therapist has recommended that I use an electronic knee brace that will enable me to walk farther and more efficiently, however the price of this device is over $6000 and my insurance carrier responded that they have a $2000 limit on devices. We’re hoping to try a less expensive device, however the efficacy of this less expensive device for treating my symptoms is unknown. I think it’s vital that the California State Legislature pass this important bill, as it would make a huge difference in the daily lives of those of us living with disabilities and chronic illnesses.”
Now that the bill has passed from committee, constituents and encouraged to contact their representatives in the state assembly and encourage them to vote for passage of the bill. To learn more about the bill, visit www.msconnection.org/advocacy.
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If not or you need a refresher course, Middletown High School senior Ashlyn Bradshaw is organizing a first aid training class for her senior project.
Sponsored by Middletown High School Interact Club, the event will be held at Middletown High School Library, 20932 Big Canyon Road, Middletown, on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and space is limited.
Upon completion, you will receive an American Red Cross First Aid certificate.
For reservations or more information, call Susan Parker at 707-987-4140, Extension 4015.
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