Continuous Improvement and the Expansion of Quality ... - NCQA

W E l l N E S S A N D P R E V E N T I o N
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Cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent preventable, yet it is the second most common cancer
among women worldwide. 1,2 In the United States, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with
cervical cancer each year, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths. 3,4 The Cervical Cancer Screening
measure assesses whether women between 21 and 64 years of age received screening for
cervical cancer using a Pap test.
• for women in whom pre-cancerous lesions
were detected through Pap tests, the
likelihood of survival is nearly 100 percent
with appropriate evaluation, treatment and
follow up. 1,3
• In 2008, the prevalence of recent Pap
test use was lowest among older women,
women with no health insurance and recent
immigrants. 1
the Case for Improvement
• The total cost of treatment for cervical
cancer is $300 million–$400 million
annually. 2
• between 60 percent and 80 percent of
women with advanced cervical cancer
have not had a Pap test in the past five
years. 1
N AT I o N A l C o M M I T T E E f o R Q U A l I T y A S S U R A N C E
CERVICAl CANCER SCREENING
• All women are at risk for cervical cancer
and women with the lowest levels of
education tend to have fewer screenings in
their lifetime. 4
• A woman who does not have regular Pap
tests significantly increases her chances of
developing cervical cancer. 3
HEdIs Measure definition
The percentage of women 21–64 years of age
who received one or more Pap test to screen
for cervical cancer in the past three years.
results
Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates
have decreased 67 percent over the past
three decades. Most of the reduction can
be attributed to the Pap test, which detects
cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. 1