• The annual reported rate captures activity during the previous calendar year. 
• This is a Healthcare Effectiveness & Data Information Set (HEDIS) administrative measure.
• Based on the advice of their External Quality Review Organization (EQRO), DVHA’s rates include only Medicaid Primary beneficiaries in HEDIS administrative measures as of 2014.
• The red dashed trend line above is the 50th percentile national benchmark for Medicaid programs. The blue solid trend line is Vermont Medicaid's actual values.

This measure assesses the percentage of sexually active women 16-24 years of age who were screened for chlamydia during the measurement year. Screening is essential because the majority of women who have the condition do not experience symptoms. The main objective of chlamydia screening is to prevent pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility and ectopic pregnancy, all of which have very high rates of occurrence among women with untreated chlamydia infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the U.S. Risk factors associated with becoming infected with chlamydia are the same risks for contracting other STD’s (e.g., multiple sex partners). Chlamydia is more prevalent among adolescent and young adult women.

Last updated:  July 2019

Author:  DVHA Quality Unit

In 2017 the DVHA Quality Committee and Managed Care Medical Committee recommended that we convene a Quality Improvement work group to explore this measure further since we historically have performed below the national 50th percentile for Medicaid programs. The project team includes DVHA Quality Unit, Data Unit & Blueprint staff as well as VDH staff from Maternal and Child Health and Health Surveillance Divisions.  The team is planning a learning collaborative offered through the Blueprint’s Women’s Health Initiative.  There are 5 practices participating in the collaborative. The collaborative will include 8 monthly webinars, running from April-September 2019.