Fall 2009
Women health screenings save lives
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. (BCBSF) remains committed to preventive screenings and educating our very diverse population of their importance. Help us by promoting these preventive health screenings with your female patients: annual gynecological exams, regular mammography screening, cervical cancer screening and Chlamydia screening. And please reinforce to young women that Gardisil does not protect against all types of cervical cancer and appropriate screenings should continue.
While our Health Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set® (HEDIS) rates for breast cancer screening remains stable, our Chlamydia screening rate improved significantly from 35% to 44%. Conversely, cervical cancer screening continues to decline to about 81%.
Our HEDIS rates are:
Cervical Cancer Screening | 2007 (MY* 2006) | 2008 (MY 2007) | 2009 (MY 2008) |
BlueCare (Commercial HMO) | 89.53% | 89.53%** | 80.78% |
|
Breast Cancer Screening | | | |
BlueCare | 70.27% | 70.69% | 72.60% |
BlueMedicare HMO
(Medicare HMO) | 71.33% | 71.2% | 73.46% |
|
Chlamydia Screening | | | |
BlueCare | 34.86% | 36.18% | 44.19% |
*Measurement Year (MY)
**Rotated Rate |
Did you know?1
While the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer continues to decline, African American women still have an incident rate of 32% higher and mortality rate twice that of white women. The death rate from cervical cancer is about 50% higher in Hispanic women than non-Hispanic white women.
Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of death in African American women. It’s also the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women and is less likely to be diagnosed at an early stage.
Author:
Online Editor:
Online Medical Reviewer:
Date Last Reviewed:
9/3/2009
Date Last Modified:
9/3/2009