Did you know that January is Cervical Cancer Screening Month? Make this a month of extra awareness for you and your patients.

While many patients may be aware that Pap screening is an important aspect of their gynecological care, they may not be aware of the connection between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) and the need for continued HPV screening and care. A large percentage of patients do not even know what HPV is or how easily they can contract it.

An astounding number of people--approximately 20 million--are currently infected with HPV. There are up to 6.2 million new genital HPV infections each year. Four viral types are accountable for 90 percent of genital warts and 70 percent of cervical cancers.

Sadly, the incidence of cervical cancer among African-American and Hispanic women is approximately 1.5 times higher than in Caucasian women. In general, women born outside of the United States have much higher mortality rates from cervical cancer than U.S.-born women.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 4,000 women will die from cervical cancer this year. Approximately half of those 4,000 have never even had one Pap test.

There is new hope on the forefront of HPV prevention with the newly available HPV vaccine as well as recently available HPV screening tests. The new HPV vaccine has opened up the door for new discussions, awareness and education among physicians and patients. The time for communication is now. Physicians can directly affect patient outcomes and quality of life.

In April 2006, the California Medical Association Foundation initiated a statewide awareness program addressing the connection between cervical cancer and HPV. With physicians and other healthcare providers in mind, the CMA Foundation and its advisory committee, made up of representatives from obstetrics/gynecology, adult medicine, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, family medicine, pharmacy and public health, have identified a number of excellent resources that deliver the most up-to-date and useful materials for patient education, provider information and continuing medical education.

Starting this month, all of these resources are brought together on the foundation Web site at www.calmedfoundation.org. You can now easily compare various new guidelines for Pap and HPV screening and vaccination, as well as access patient information in various languages. The site also features a list of valuable links and a variety of online CME programs. There are clinical articles for physicians and fact sheets for patients. Finally, a calendar highlights important cervical cancer and HPV events around the state.

Take the time to talk to patients. Make the connection everyday. With proper understanding and follow-up care, cervical cancer could eventually become a disease of the past.

Insurance Coverage for HPV Testing, Vaccines Growing
This past fall, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a California Medical Association-sponsored bill that requires California insurers to begin covering HPV testing immediately as part of cervical cancer screening. The law, which makes California the fifth state in the nation to require coverage of HPV testing, underscores the test's role as an emerging standard of care in cancer screening.

In August 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that 11- and 12-year-old girls be routinely vaccinated against HPV. With committee approval, it is likely that federal officials will vote to add the HPV vaccine to the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for immunizations for the poor.

A CMA-sponsored law requires California health plans to pay for vaccines covered by the federal vaccine program. Unfortunately, although the vaccine is approved for females age 9 to 26, most payers will likely only cover the vaccine for 11- and 12-year-old girls, as required by law.

Carol A. Lee, Esq., is president and CEO of the California Medical Association Foundation. She can be reached at 916/551-2562 or clee@cmanet.org.