**SACRAMENTO, Calif.** – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation that will expand access to cervical cancer screening for women in California. The bill, AB 39, was authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and co-authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).
AB 39 allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to perform cervical cancer screenings, which are currently only performed by doctors. This will increase the number of providers who can offer these screenings and make it easier for women to get the care they need.
Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Screening is essential for early detection and treatment, but many women do not get screened regularly. In California, only about 60% of women aged 21-65 have had a Pap test or HPV test in the past five years.
AB 39 will help to increase screening rates by making it easier for women to get the care they need. The bill will also help to reduce disparities in access to care, as women of color and low-income women are more likely to be uninsured and to have difficulty accessing healthcare.
“AB 39 is a critical step forward in our efforts to reduce cervical cancer deaths in California,” said Governor Newsom. “This bill will make it easier for women to get the screenings they need, and it will help to save lives.”
“I am proud to have authored AB 39,” said Assemblymember Wicks. “This bill will make a real difference in the lives of women in California. By expanding access to screening, we can help to ensure that more women get the care they need to stay healthy.”
“Cervical cancer is a preventable disease,” said Senator Skinner. “AB 39 will help to make sure that more women have access to the screenings they need to catch this disease early and get the treatment they need to survive.”
AB 39 is supported by a coalition of healthcare providers, women’s health advocates, and cancer survivors. The bill was signed into law on July 15, 2023, and will take effect on January 1, 2024.
**In addition to AB 39, Governor Newsom also signed the following bills today:**
* **AB 12** (Wicks): Requires health insurance plans to cover the cost of genetic testing for women at high risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
* **AB 16** (Wicks): Creates a statewide program to provide free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women.
* **SB 10** (Skinner): Requires health insurance plans to cover the cost of HPV vaccinations for women and men aged 19-26.
These bills are part of Governor Newsom’s ongoing commitment to improving women’s health in California. The Governor has also signed legislation to expand access to birth control, to protect women from discrimination in the workplace, and to ensure that women have access to the reproductive healthcare services they need.
**For more information on cervical cancer screening, please visit the California Department of Public Health website:** [link to website]
**For more information on the Governor’s initiatives to improve women’s health, please visit the Governor’s Office website:** [link to website].
