Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS) HEDIS Measure Transitions to Electronic Clinical Data Systems (ECDS): What Clinicians Need to Know

Starting in Measurement Year 2025, the NCQA has transitioned the HEDIS® Cervical Cancer Screening (CCS) measure to the Electronic Clinical Data Systems (ECDS) reporting method. This shift has important implications for clinicians, as it emphasizes the growing role of clinical data capture and interoperability in quality reporting.

The CCS measure evaluates whether women aged 21–64 are receiving timely cervical cancer screenings. Historically based on claims data, the move to ECDS means that screenings documented in EHRs, health information exchanges (HIEs), and clinical registries will now count toward HEDIS performance—even if a claim is not submitted.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR CLINICIANS

• More complete and accurate measurement: Screenings documented in clinical notes or labs but not billed may now be included in performance rates, closing previous data gaps.
• Improved care visibility: ECDS allows for a more holistic view of patient care, especially for patients receiving services across multiple systems.
• Reduced administrative burden: Reliance on structured clinical data can reduce the need for manual chart abstraction and supplemental data submissions.
• Greater alignment with clinical workflows: ECDS supports a more seamless integration of quality reporting into day-to-day care documentation.

This transition reinforces the importance of accurate and timely documentation in the EHR, particularly ensuring that cervical cancer screenings are coded and recorded in structured fields accessible for electronic reporting.

Clinicians are encouraged to collaborate with health IT and quality teams to ensure data flows are optimized for ECDS and that documentation practices align with evolving quality measurement standards.

As NCQA continues to modernize HEDIS through ECDS, clinicians play a critical role in ensuring high-quality preventive care is both delivered and captured effectively.