The 1998 Centers for Disease Control Treatment Guidelines recommend annual Chlamydia (CT) screening for adolescents, and young adult females with risk factors. Evaluation of CT screening requires data for services delivered to clients served by family planning providers. Administrative databases were used to estimate CT screening coverage in Family PACT, the California publicly-funded family planning program including client and provider enrollment data and paid laboratory claims for 873,711 female clients served in FY 98/99. The CT screening coverage measure was the proportion of CT tests by test type that were performed on clients at their initial visit. Screening rates varied little by age; 40% for women younger than 20, 44% for those 20-24 and 42% for females 25 or older. However, CT screening coverage differed by provider type. While private practice providers were less likely to screen adolescent clients (29%) as compared to public sector providers (49%), overall, they were more likely to test older groups. The reverse was true for the public sector providers, who were most likely to screen younger clients than those aged 25 or older. Public sector providers were more likely to use amplified DNA tests while private practice were more likely to use less sensitive non-amplified DNA tests. Claims data analysis can provide insight into the variations in CT screening coverage by client age, test type, and provider type. The Family PACT Program has developed professional education based on this and other data to improve provider adherence to Family PACT Standards and CDC screening guidelines.
Learning Objectives: The participant will be able to: 1) Identify claims data elements that are needed to construct a chlamydia screening coverage measure, and 2) Describe differences in chlamydia screening coverage by client age, test type, and provider type.
Keywords: Family Planning, STD
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.