Access to lifesaving preventive services, including cancer screening, relies on federal preventive care recommendations and guidelines that determine which screenings, tests, and services health insurance plans must cover without cost sharing, including who is eligible, the age at which services are recommended, and the frequency with which they should be provided. Two key sources shaping national preventive care are the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI), whose guidelines are adopted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
USPSTF and WPSI play complementary roles in ensuring coverage for preventive care services. USPSTF focuses on recommendations for specific preventive services across a wide range of conditions, while WPSI provides guidance specific to women’s health. For cancer prevention and early detection, USPSTF includes numerous recommendations across multiple cancer types. WPSI’s guidelines are more focused in scope, currently addressing breast and cervical cancer screening pathways, and are incorporated into HRSA’s Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines.
To learn more, download the factsheet here.
