Encourage Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS)

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and successfully treatable forms of cancer if it is detected and diagnosed early. Although Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS) has dramatically reduced new cases and deaths from the disease over the past 50 years, a National Cancer Institute study found that the percentage of people who are overdue for screening has increased from 14% in 2005 to 23% in 2019.¹  

What can I do?

One of the most important things you can do is to recommend a routine CCS for your patients, per preventive care guidelines published by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the National Institutes of Health: every three years for people 21 to 64 years with a cervical cytology (Pap test) and every five years for people 30 to 64 years of age with a cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test or hrHPV and Pap co-testing. People who have been vaccinated against HPV should still be screened for cervical cancer.

How can I encourage my patients to get a CCS?

When encouraging your patients to get their cervical cancer screening, be sensitive and use culturally appropriate messaging. Regardless of a person’s background, many people might be sensitive or embarrassed to discuss or have the screening. High levels of modesty among some people might create barriers in their interactions, especially when there is a lack of cultural congruence. As a result, encouraging your patients to be screened for cervical cancer may be part of a continued conversation conducted with your patients in their preferred language and in simple terms until they feel more comfortable and understand the benefits of completing the screening.

It is important to start these conversations early in the year so the appropriate screenings can be completed in a timely manner before the end of the calendar year.

How can I report data for HEDIS?

NCQA strongly encourages the electronic collection of CCS HEDIS^® data. Data sources for HEDIS Electronic Clinical Data System (ECDS) may come from the electronic health record (EHR)/personal health record (PHR) and administrative data from claims. ECDS reporting can reduce the measurement and data exchange burden on your practices and can be more efficient and more sensitive. Contact your Healthy Blue provider relationship management representative for additional details and questions.

Cervical cancer screening HEDIS data may also be collected through medical record review. As you review and screen your patients based on the guidance and their personal risk factors, be sure to clearly document the screening in your patient’s medical chart and in submitted claims. Additionally, be sure to clearly document any applicable exclusions such as an absence of a cervix, a hysterectomy, or assignment of male at birth.

In addition, it is becoming increasingly important to identify the population served by race, ethnicity, preferred language, and socioeconomic status to help measure and address health disparities.