News and Commentary

3rd U.S. Preventive Task Force Issues Recommendations

MANAGED CARE May 2001. ©MediMedia USA

The Third U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released its first of 70 sets of recommendations about the value of specific preventive services. The USPSTF grades the strength of evidence for preventive services from A (strong recommendation) to D (recommends against), or I (insufficient evidence). Among interventions receiving an A: that primary care physicians screen all sexually active women under 26 for chlamydia. Some others:

Routine screening for lipid disorders in men 35+/women 45+ A
Routine screening for lipid disorders in younger adults with no known risk factors for CHD C
Routine screening for early detection of cutaneous melanoma, basal cell cancer, or squamous cell skin cancer I
Routine screening for bacterial vaginosis in women at high risk for pre-term delivery I
MANAGED CARE May 2001. ©MediMedia USA