Aguiar-Curry Bill to Expand At-home Cervical Cancer Screenings Passes Legislature

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) announced today that the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1906 (AB 1906), legislation to expand cervical cancer screening access by requiring private and state-funded health plans to cover FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening kits without cost-sharing. AB 1906 heads to Governor Newsom's desk.

"Early detection saves lives, and access to screening should not depend on whether you can take time off work or drive miles to a clinic," said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. "AB 1906 brings this critical preventive care directly to peoples' homes, helping us catch cervical cancer earlier and close gaps in access to women's health. This is a gamechanger for our rural and underserved communities."

Cervical cancer is highly preventable and treatable when caught early, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 91 percent, compared to 20 percent for late-stage diagnoses. At-home HPV testing can more than double screening participation, offering a critical option for Californians who face barriers to in-person care. Rural women, for example, are 25 percent more likely to be diagnosed and 42 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer.

AB 1906 would require private and state-funded health plans to cover FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening, expanding access for Californians regardless of income or location. The bill builds on recently published California Department of Public Health guidelines recommending screening intervals based on age and risk factors and remains brand and technology-neutral, allowing coverage of any FDA-authorized at-home screening test.

Expanding access would make preventive care more convenient and affordable for rural and working Californians. According to the California Health Benefits Review Program, the coverage requirement would increase premiums by no more than approximately one cent per member per month. At the same time, earlier detection will not only save lives, it will reduce long-term costs for the state, health systems, and insurers by limiting in-person visits and preventing expensive late-stage cancer treatments.

"For about a penny a month, we can remove a major barrier to screening for cancer for our low-income and rural communities and give more Californians the chance for a diagnosis before it costs them their lives," said Aguiar-Curry. "That is a worthwhile investment in prevention, equity, and healthier communities in my book."

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