Winter 2017
The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is a tool used by more than 90 percent of America’s health plans to assess performance on key measures of care and service. Neighborhood also uses HEDIS® results to see where we need to focus our improvement efforts and to educate medical providers regarding steps they can take to improve HEDIS® rates as well as the health of our members.
Two very important measures for HEDIS®:
Chlamydia Screening in Women: This measure assesses the number of sexually active females between the ages of 16 and 24 years of age who were screened for chlamydia annually. Inquiring about this screening in all your patients, particularly those in this age group, will not only improve HEDIS® rates, but more important, will help prevent the serious complications associated with chlamydia infection. Chlamydia is one of the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the United States. It occurs most often among adolescents and young adult females. Screening this population for Chlamydia is a priority as the majority of men and women infected may be asymptomatic.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) in Adolescents: This measure pertains to girls and boys who have had two doses of the HPV vaccine between 9 and 13 years of age. According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), routine vaccination is recommended at ages 11 or 12. Centers for Disease Control documents that the vaccine series can be started as early as age 9. Rhode Island students are required to have had one dose of the HPV vaccine series before entering the 7th grade.
Although this is not part of the HEDIS® measure, ACIP also recommends the HPV vaccination for young women through age 26 and young men through age 21.
Please keep these measures in mind at every visit with your patients.