Young's fight for coverage of cervical cancer screening successful

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) released its final cervical cancer screening recommendations which included co-testing - a combination of a Pap test and a HPV test for women aged 30-65 - as the recommended screening method after members of Congress, led by Congressman David Young, urged co-testing to be included. 

Congressman Young met with Morgan Newman, a cervical cancer survivor from Winterset, Iowa earlier this year who shared her story and concerns that the initial proposal from USPSTF did not include co-testing and could have had serious implications for patients. After hearing from Morgan about this situation, Congressman Young wrote the  Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar asking for co-testing to be the recommended screening method.

"I am pleased to see the final recommendations from USPSTF include co-testing as the recommended screening method for cervical cancer which is proven to prevent as many as 93 percent of new cervical cancer cases," said Congressman Young. "As one of my bosses, Morgan's story had a strong impact on me and the facts she presented convinced me that fighting for co-testing was the right thing to do. This is how our representative government is supposed to work and I thank Morgan for her leadership and courage to share her story."

"As a cervical cancer survivor, I know this is an extremely exciting and important decision for women's health care. HPV co-testing is a necessary tool for prevention and detection of cervical cancer for all women," said Morgan Newman. "This disease is preventable and this is one more step in the right direction."

The USPSTF is an independent panel of national experts in prevention which recommend clinical preventative services. Insurance companies often base their coverage on the recommendations from the USPSTF which is why Congressman Young knew it was important to have co-testing as the recommended screening method for cervical cancer.  

During the markup of the Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, Congressman Young had language inserted into the bill which made sure co-testing remained the recommended screening method.  

Read the Congressman's letter to Secretary Azar here.