Cervical Cancer Screening and Diagnosis

Aetna considers annual cervical cancer screening with conventional or liquid‑based Pap smears medically necessary for nonhysterectomized women age ≥21 and for adolescents in specified high‑risk groups (HIV‑infected, sexually active immunocompromised, history of cervical dysplasia/cancer, or in utero DES exposure) with testing twice in the first year after diagnosis/onset of sexual activity (6‑month intervals for some) and then annually. Pap screening is not medically necessary after total hysterectomy for benign disease or if the cervix is absent, and Pap screening for women <21 (except the specified high‑risk adolescents), diagnostic Pap for other indications, primary HPV testing in women <30, and HPV testing to select vaccine candidates are considered experimental/investigational.

"HPV DNA testing medically necessary: "Follow-up of women with low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL) who have had negative colposcopy results within the past 2 years."