Cervical cancer screening expansion is coming to WWC Clinical Services and Care Coordination!

Women’s Wellness Connection (WWC) is expanding cervical cancer services to include women ages 21-39, tentatively starting January 2017, coinciding with Cervical Health Awareness Month. An initial announcement was made to WWC agencies and stakeholders May 2016. This policy change allows the WWC program, both Clinical Services and Care Coordination, to align with national guidelines for cervical cancer screening age recommendations. Women must continue to meet all other WWC eligibility requirements (income, lawful presence, insurance status) for enrollment. WWC age eligibility for breast cancer screenings will remain for women ages 40-64. To start preparing for this policy change:

• Look for additional information in the WWC Forum and WWC Update in the coming months, including a Cervical Expansion FAQs sheet and cervical case studies involving women 21-39.
• Attend the clinical webinar scheduled for October 5, 2016 from 12-1 p.m. Dr. Jan Shepherd will be discussing cervical cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services for this younger age population.
• Start planning for EHR and form changes, staff training needs, and internal policy/workflow updates that will include enrolling women ages 21-39 into WWC for cervical screenings.

Please contact the nurse consultant, Angela.FellersLeMire@state.co.us with any clinical questions, including questions regarding the upcoming cervical cancer screening expansion.