Published April 2026

May is Women’s Health Awareness Month—a time to shine a spotlight on the unique health needs of women throughout every stage of life, from reproductive years to menopause and healthy aging. We are committed to supporting women’s health by encouraging preventive care, routine screenings, and early detection, all of which are essential for achieving better health outcomes.

Women’s preventive care HEDIS measures support this whole person approach by focusing on screenings that help identify risk early, prevent disease progression, and reduce avoidable complications. Provider engagement remains one of the most influential factors in whether women complete recommended screenings.

Key Women’s Health HEDIS Measures

Breast Cancer Screening
Evidence shows that early detection improves treatment options and survival. A clear provider recommendation is one of the strongest predictors of screening completion and helps address member concerns, misconceptions, and access‑related barriers.

Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer is highly preventable with regular screening, yet life transitions, such as pregnancy, caregiving, or menopause, can disrupt routine care. Consistent provider outreach supports continuity and prevention. Primary care practices should refer members to an OBGYN if in-office screening is unavailable.

STD (Chlamydia) Screening
Often asymptomatic, untreated infections can lead to serious long term complications. Normalizing sexual health conversations helps reduce stigma and supports early identification and treatment. View the MVP Provider Reference Coding Guide for Adult Measures for measurement parameters.

Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal cancer is frequently detected late without routine screening. Proactive conversations help Members understand screening as a preventive step—not only a response to symptoms. At-home screening options are reimbursable by MVP and represent an improvement over foregoing screening entirely.

Osteoporosis Testing After a Fracture
A fracture may signal underlying bone loss, particularly during and after menopause. Timely bone density tests can identify decreases in bone density, helping to prevent future fractures, increase mobility, and promote long term independence. See below on how MVP is expanding access to DEXA scans.

By reinforcing preventive care at every visit, providers help improve outcomes, advance health equity, and support quality performance across women’s health measures.
Access the MVP Provider Reference Coding Guide for Adult Measures.

Provider Call Out: How You Can Help Close Care Gaps

• Start the conversation early and often
  Routine reminders normalize screening and help prevent care gaps during life transitions
• Address barriers with empathy
  Fear, time constraints, and misinformation are common; open discussion builds trust and follow through
• Use every visit as an opportunity
  Acute and follow up visits can be effective touchpoints to reinforce preventive care
• Connect screening to long term health
  Framing screenings as part of whole person wellness, not just quality measures, supports sustained engagement