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This article series is a monthly tool to help physicians maximize patient health outcomes in accordance with NCQA's* HEDIS®† measurements for high quality care on important dimensions of services.
If you have feedback or would like to request a topic, email us.
HEDIS® definition
Cervical cancer screening: The percentage of women ages 21 – 64 who were screened for cervical cancer using either of the following criteria:
- women ages 21 – 64 who had cervical cytology performed every three years;
- women ages 30 – 64 who had cervical cytology/human papillomavirus (HPV) co-testing performed every five years.
Why this measure is important
Cervical cancer can be detected in its early stages by regular screening using a Pap (cervical cytology) test. A number of organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, and American Cancer Society recommend Pap testing every one to three years for all women who have been sexually active or who are 21 and older.
? NCQA, HEDIS 2015 V1
Quick tips for improvement
- ✔ Develop a reminder system to help keep members up-to-date with when they are due for screening.
- ✔ Educate members about the importance of cervical cancer screening, and provide educational resources
such as the National Cancer Institute website. - ✔ Explain the screening procedure to help alleviate any anxiety or fear related to the screening.
- ✔ Encourage scheduling of a cervical cancer screening during the member's gynecologic visit.
| Percentage of U.S. women ages 18 and older who have had a Pap test in the last three years by race and ethnicity |
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*The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is the most widely recognized accreditation program in the U.S.
† The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is an NCQA tool used by more than 90 percent of U.S. health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care.
HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Used with permission.
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