New Cervical Cancer Screening Option Expands Choice and Access for Women

Hello, I'm Admiral Brian Christine, the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or as we call it, HHS. And I'm Tom Ingalls, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and we're here to share an important update. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers that we have, but about one in four women in the United States is not up to date on screening, and that puts lives at risk. As a clinician, as a surgeon, I've cared for women suffering from metastatic or late-stage cervical cancer that might have been prevented with earlier screening. That's why this update matters. Across HHS, we're working to make it easier for more women to get screened. Every part of the department plays an important role, from the FDA approving safe and effective screening tests, to CMS overseeing coverage and payment of preventative services, to HRSA setting evidence-based preventive care guidelines that improve access and outcome. HRSA recently updated the Women's Preventive Services Guidelines to add a new screening option for average-risk women age 30 to 65. That new option is self-collection for HPV testing. This option lets women choose what works best for them. It expands, not replaces, in-off-the-screen. Women can still have a pap smear or clinician-collected test if they prefer. Strong evidence shows that self-collected HPV testing is as effective as clinician-collected samples, and it can help reach women who face barriers like transportation challenges, limited time, or discomfort with in-office exams. Access and cost matter. Starting in 2027, most private health insurance plans will be required to cover screening and any follow-up testing needed to complete screening for malignancies without cost-sharing. And that means more choices, fewer barriers, and early detection, detection at a time when treatment is most effective. It's a powerful step forward for women's health, grounded in gold-standard science and evidence, because that's what Secretary Kennedy demands. By expanding options and removing cost barriers, and with Admiral Christine's leadership and collaboration, we're helping more women take control of their health and prevent cervical cancer nationwide. To learn more, go to HRSA.gov slash women's dash guidelines. And we thank you. Thank you. Produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.