Practice Manager Insider

Less than 10% of Eligible Patients Screened for Colorectal Cancer in Federal Health Care Centers

The low proportion of patients screened for colorectal cancer comes from a study published in the current issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Authors reviewed medical records of patients (N = 3416) receiving primary care at a federally qualified health center serving low-income neighborhoods in Chicago. By age and family history, 642 were eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Physicians recommended screening for 9.2% (n = 59); about 7% (n = 45) were screening appropriately. About three-quarters (76.2%) of patients for whom screening was recommended completed the suggested evaluation. Older patients were more likely than younger ones to have received a recommendation for screening and to actually be screened.

Most diagnosed patients receive quality care

Results of another survey of patient records (N = 1765) conducted to evaluate quality of cancer treatment provided were published recently in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Patients with breast cancer received 86% of care recommended by the National Initiative for Cancer Care Quality. Those with colorectal cancer received 78% of recommended care.

March 22--Last Chance to Comment on Proposed HEDIS Changes

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has proposed changes to the recommended age ranges for breast and cervical cancer screening in the Health Plan Employer Data Set (HEDIS^®). NCQA is accepting comments about these proposals until 5 pm on Wednesday, March 22.

The first proposed change would broaden the age window for breast cancer screening from 50 through 69 years to 40 through 74 years. The revised lower age limit would bring HEDIS into line with recommendations from the American Cancer Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The increase in the upper age limit is based on a recommendation from the Technical Expert Panel and Committee on Performance Measures, which offers advice about HEDIS.

The second proposed change would raise the minimum age for cervical cancer screening from 18 years to 21 years, matching the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the ACS, and the USPSTF.

HEDIS is the tool used by most of the healthcare industry to measure health plan performance. NCQA manages the evolution of HEDIS.

NCQA prefers to receive comments by email. Click here for the comment page.