To be heard Friday, Feb. 9th - SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
SB 080, along with SB 097, will be heard by Senate Appropriations Friday, Feb. 9th at 8:30 am in room SCR 356.
It is important to read the fiscal note on this bill, because there are several unanswered questions. Also, read the updated version of the bill because it was amended in health committee.
FISCAL NOTE: [PDF]
AMENDED VERSION OF SB 080
Action Needed: Against SB 080
Contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee ASAP and express your concerns about cost.
Senate Appropriations Committee:
Chair: Senator Tapia, Abel (D) 303-866-2581 - abel.tapia.senat@state.co.us
Vice Chair: Senator Keller, Maryanne (Moe) (D) 303-866-2585 - moe.keller.senate@state.co.us
Brophy, Greg (R) 303-866-6360 -greg@gregbrophy.net
Groff, Peter, (D) 303-866-4864 peter.groff.senate@state.co.us
Harvey, Ted (R) 303-866-4881 ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us
Johnson, Steve, (R) 303-866-4853 steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us
Kopp, Mike (R) 303-866-4859 mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us
Takis, Stephanie (D) 303-866-4855 stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us
Facts Regarding SB 080
- Colorado does not need to mandate HPV vaccine in order for it to be available under the Federal Vaccines for Children Program. This program already covers the HPV vaccine for children and teens under 19 years of age, who are either uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Native.
- The mandate would cost parents who are underinsured a lot of money. Cost estimate by NVIC
- A lot of private physicians will not give this vaccine because the reimbursement rates are so low.
- Is Colorado providing enough funding for the program that provides cervical cancer screening so they can provide the population most at risk for cervical cancer, older women and minorities, free pap smears? According to the Colorado Women's Cancer Control Initiative web site for more info.
- Herd immunity will not be achieved with only vaccinating girls. What about the boys and gay men?
- How much will this mandate increase the cost of health insurance?
- What about Governor Ritter's Colorado Promise regarding health insurance? Mandates drive up the cost of health insurance and force everyone to pay for something they may not need or want.
- Just how many girls in the state will be under this mandate? Do you have accurate numbers?
- How much will it cost if the health dept. adds other age groups to this mandate? Is it going to be enough to say 12-year-old girls need this vaccine, but 13 to 26 year girls don't?
- How much will it cost for boosters that may be required because the duration of protection is not known? Boosters just had to be added to the list of vaccines required for children in CO for chickenpox and whooping cough. See board of health draft on these changes. [PDF]
- The requirement for pneumococcal vaccine was suspended for 6 years for lack of funding. The board of health only recently added this vaccine back on. To mandate HPV vaccine and say the funds will be there without knowing the exact cost and where the money will come from is putting the cart before the horse.
- Is it right to force everyone to pay for this vaccine with tax dollars and increased insurance costs when HPV can be avoided by abstinence?
- Flu vaccines are widely available even though flu vaccine is not required or mandated for school. A school mandate is not necessary.
- A school mandate is also not necessary for illegal aliens to be eligible for this vaccine because they are already eligible to receive all vaccines recommended by the federal government.
- Governor Ritter has made raising immunization rates a priority, even though the most recent figures show very high rates. Every time a new vaccine is added to the list it becomes more difficult to sustain high immunization rates. What will the costs down the road be to force citizens to comply with more and more mandates? Will more money have to be put into the immunization tracking system? Will Governor Ritter sign an executive order like Governor Perry of Texas just did?
Read more on Governor Ritter's agenda and the vaccination rates.
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