Healthcare quality measurement continues to evolve as health plans, providers, and care organizations rely on increasingly sophisticated data to evaluate outcomes and identify gaps in care. The latest NCQA HEDIS specifications updates reflect that evolution, with changes affecting measure structures, reporting methods, terminology, clinical data sources, and digital quality measurement. For organizations focused on osteoporosis management and bone health, understanding these changes is particularly important because HEDIS performance depends on accurately identifying eligible populations and completing qualifying care within specified timeframes.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) updates HEDIS specifications regularly to reflect clinical evidence, changes in healthcare delivery, coding updates, and the continuing transition toward digital measurement. Staying current helps health plans and providers develop workflows that support accurate reporting while also improving opportunities to close important care gaps.

Understanding the Latest NCQA HEDIS Specifications Updates

NCQA, the organization that manages HEDIS, updates its rules for each measurement year. It may also publish corrections or added guidance after the first release.

In April 2026, NCQA announced that some code groups related to quantitative ultrasound had been removed from the OMW specifications too early. These code groups, known as value sets, help organizations identify services that may count toward a HEDIS measure.

NCQA restored the quantitative ultrasound value sets for MY 2026 and released a corrected Value Set Directory. Organizations reporting MY 2026 results should use the April 2026 version of that directory.

In simple terms:

• Quantitative ultrasound-related value sets were restored for MY 2026.
• Organizations should use the corrected April 2026 Value Set Directory for MY 2026 reporting.
• The rules may change in later years, so organizations should always check the materials for the year they are reporting.

NCQA has also said that it is continuing to review the use of quantitative ultrasound within its osteoporosis measures.

Why HEDIS Specification Changes Matter for Healthcare Organizations

HEDIS specifications establish precise criteria for determining which patients qualify for measures and what actions satisfy those measures. Even relatively small specification changes can therefore affect clinical workflows, documentation, coding, data extraction, and gap-closure initiatives.

Healthcare organizations should pay particular attention to:

• Measure eligibility: Changes to populations, exclusions, and age ranges can alter which patients are included.
• Value sets and coding: Updated codes can change which documented services satisfy measure requirements.
• Reporting methodology: Movement toward ECDS changes how organizations obtain and process clinical information.
• Data quality: Reliable clinical data becomes increasingly important as quality measurement becomes more digital.
• Workflow timing: Measures with defined intervention periods require systems that identify care gaps early enough to take action.

The practical takeaway is that HEDIS readiness should not be treated only as an annual reporting exercise. Organizations benefit from maintaining year-round processes for identifying populations, documenting care, reviewing data, and addressing open gaps.

Digital HEDIS and the Expansion of ECDS Reporting

Another important element of the NCQA HEDIS specifications updates is the continued expansion of ECDS reporting. ECDS allows organizations to use clinical information from electronic sources such as electronic health records, health information exchanges, case management systems, registries, and administrative claims.

For MY 2026, additional measures moved toward ECDS reporting, while NCQA also removed the requirement to report measure results according to Source System of Record categories.

This transition is significant because it moves HEDIS closer to comprehensive population-level measurement instead of depending heavily on retrospective medical record review and sampling.

Healthcare organizations should consequently evaluate whether their current systems can reliably capture, exchange, and retrieve the information needed for quality measurement. As the industry moves further toward digital HEDIS, accessible and structured clinical information becomes increasingly valuable.

What the Updates Mean for Osteoporosis Management

Bone health remains an important quality issue, particularly among older adults who have experienced fractures. One measure directly relevant to this population is Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a Fracture (OMW).

The OMW measure evaluates women ages 67–85 who experience a fracture and receive either a qualifying bone mineral density test or an osteoporosis medication within 180 days after the fracture.

That six-month period creates a clear opportunity for proactive gap closure. Rather than waiting until the end of the reporting cycle, health plans and healthcare organizations can identify eligible women following a fracture and establish workflows that facilitate timely assessment.

Organizations developing osteoporosis initiatives can learn more about BeamMed’s HEDIS OMW solution and how portable bone density technology can support bone health assessment programs.

Closing HEDIS OMW Gaps Through Accessible Bone Density Assessment

One of the operational challenges associated with bone health initiatives is making assessment convenient for eligible patients. Traditional workflows may require patients to travel to a hospital, imaging center, or specialized facility. Additional appointments can create friction, especially for older adults who recently experienced a fracture and may already have mobility limitations.

Portable technology can provide organizations with additional flexibility.

BeamMed’s portable bone density scanner is designed to support fast bone density assessment in physician offices, clinics, pharmacies, health screening programs, and other care settings. Expanding the locations where assessments can be performed can help organizations build more flexible bone health workflows.

The Sunlight MiniOmni uses quantitative ultrasound technology to assess bone density without ionizing radiation. Its compact design also allows healthcare organizations to bring screening capabilities into settings where conventional equipment may be impractical.

For HEDIS-focused organizations, portability can be particularly useful when developing targeted outreach programs for eligible populations.

Preparing for Continued HEDIS Changes

The move toward digital measurement is not a one-year change. NCQA has outlined a broader transition away from traditional hybrid reporting as electronic clinical information becomes increasingly available.

Organizations preparing for future measurement years should therefore think beyond individual annual updates. The objective should be to create an adaptable quality infrastructure capable of responding when specifications, codes, reporting methodologies, and data requirements change.

A practical HEDIS readiness strategy can include:

• Reviewing new and updated specifications at the beginning of each measurement cycle.
• Monitoring NCQA technical updates and coding changes throughout the year.
• Mapping affected measures to current clinical and data workflows.
• Identifying high-priority care gaps as early as possible.
• Expanding access to services that can satisfy applicable clinical requirements.
• Ensuring completed services are accurately documented and available to appropriate reporting systems.

This approach transforms HEDIS from a retrospective reporting obligation into an ongoing quality improvement process.

Supporting Bone Health and HEDIS OMW Performance With BeamMed

As NCQA HEDIS specifications updates continue moving healthcare quality measurement toward more timely and digitally accessible data, organizations need practical ways to address care gaps while improving access to appropriate services.

BeamMed Inc. specializes in advanced bone density assessment technology designed for convenient osteoporosis assessment and monitoring. The company’s MiniOmni system is compact, portable, non-invasive, and radiation-free, making it suitable for physician offices, clinics, health fairs, mobile programs, and other settings where conventional bone density equipment may be difficult to deploy.

BeamMed’s technology can help organizations build accessible bone health assessment workflows and support initiatives focused on the HEDIS OMW population. Healthcare organizations interested in learning more about BeamMed’s technology and expertise can visit the BeamMed company profile or explore its bone density solutions.

As HEDIS continues to evolve, combining accurate quality data with accessible clinical services can help healthcare organizations respond to changing requirements while keeping the underlying objective in focus: identifying care needs and connecting patients with appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important HEDIS changes healthcare organizations should know about?

Recent updates include new and retired measures, expanded ECDS reporting, updated value sets and coding guidance, and a redesigned specification format aligned more closely with FHIR standards. Organizations should review NCQA specifications and technical updates for the measurement year they are reporting.

How often does NCQA update HEDIS specifications?

NCQA releases HEDIS specifications for each measurement year and may subsequently publish technical updates, FAQs, coding revisions, and other guidance. Healthcare organizations should monitor updates throughout the reporting cycle rather than relying exclusively on the initial specification release.

What is ECDS reporting in HEDIS?

Electronic Clinical Data Systems reporting uses electronic clinical information from approved data sources, which can include electronic health records, health information exchanges, registries, case management systems, and administrative data. ECDS is an important component of NCQA’s broader movement toward digital quality measurement.

What is the HEDIS OMW measure?

Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a Fracture (OMW) evaluates the percentage of women ages 67–85 who experience a fracture and receive either a qualifying bone mineral density test or osteoporosis medication within 180 days following the fracture. Timely identification and follow-up are therefore important components of an effective OMW gap-closure strategy.