Blue Review
A newsletter for contracting institutional and professional providers

February 2021

Tips to Close the Chlamydia Testing in Women (CHL) HEDIS® Care Gap

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were nearly 1.8 million cases of chlamydia reported in 2018, at a rate of 539.9 cases per 100,000. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common notifiable condition in the U.S. While this data is not representative of all chlamydia infections in the U.S., since infection is often asymptomatic and may not be diagnosed, this number still represents a 2.9% increase in rate compared with 2017. During 2014-2018, the highest rates were reported among people 15-24 years old.1

The below information and resources may help you inform your patients on the importance of chlamydia testing in women, as well as to help provide you with up-to-date recommendations, statistics and guidance to help close Health Care Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) care gaps. These recommendations are not intended as medical advice nor meant to be a substitute for the for the sound independent medical judgment of health care practitioners.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for chlamydia in sexually active women age 24 years and younger and in older women who are at increased risk for infection.2 The CDC recommends this annually and describes increased risk of infection as having a new sex partner, more than one sex partner, a sex partner with concurrent partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.3

Chlamydia infections in women are often asymptomatic, but when untreated can lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and facilitation of HIV infection transmission. PID may lead to tubal factor infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain. An infected pregnant woman may also pass infection to her newborn during delivery, which can cause ophthalmia neonatorum and pneumonia in the newborn.4

Helpful Tips:

  • Perform chlamydia screening every year on every sexually active 16- to 24-year-old female.
  • Inform patients that chlamydia screening can be performed through a urine test.3 Offer this as an option.
  • Place chlamydia swab next to Pap test or pregnancy detection materials.
  • Encourage your patients to contact their health plan to learn about potential transportation benefits that may be available.
  • Provide education to your patients that:
  • Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can affect both men and women.
  • Using latex condoms during intercourse can reduce your risk of getting chlamydia.
  • Most people with chlamydia do not have any symptoms. Even without symptoms, chlamydia can damage your reproductive system.
  • If you are sexually active, it is important that you and your partner(s) be tested for STIs.
  • If you or your partner is experiencing symptoms of chlamydia, see your health care provider for testing and treatment as appropriate.
  • Chlamydia can be cured with the right treatment.5

Additional resources:

1CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance: Chlamydia. Reviewed Sept. 30, 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/chlamydia.htm.

2USPSTF, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: Screening, 2014. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/chlamydia-and-gonorrhea-screening.

3CDC, June 5, 2015. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 64 (3). https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/tg-2015-print.pdf.

4CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Chlamydia: CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed). Reviewed Oct. 4, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia-detailed.htm

5CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Chlamydia-CDC Fact Sheet. 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/stdfact-chlamydia.htm.

The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.