California Physician Offices
Breast Cancer Screening


The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found fair evidence that breast cancer screening reduces mortality among Medicare beneficiaries. There is a need for more effective strategies for providing screenings to these individuals. Interventions that support health information technology
have the potential to improve breast cancer screening rates.


HSAG works with participating physician practices throughout California that have CCHIT-certified electronic health records (EHRs) to improve breast cancer screening rates. HSAG will educate physician offices on how to use their EHR to improve screening rates for breast cancer. Quality improvement interventions will be implemented through generating reports, implementing clinical alerts and reminders, enabling patient recall functions, and standardizing documentation within the EHR. Each participating physician practice will use its EHR to report breast cancer screening rates directly to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).