After Exact Sciences got a favorable outcome from a federal task force last month, stock analysts said it might help the company’s Cologuard product get listed on crucial quality measures.

And this week, the National Committee for Quality Assurance proposed to do just that. The NCQA laid out the proposed quality measures for colon cancer for its 2017 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS. It included Exact Sciences’ Cologuard screening test in those proposed measures.

The organization is taking comments on the measures until Aug. 10.

The HEDIS quality measures are a key element insurers look to as they consider covering certain procedures. Being included in those measures would be a big boost to Exact Sciences, whose Cologuard test is covered under Medicare but has faced some struggles getting private insurer coverage.

“Inclusion in the HEDIS quality measures is an important milestone toward Cologuard becoming a standard of care for colon cancer screening,” said Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. “Physicians, health systems and insurers would receive quality credit for using this patient-friendly screening option, which we believe will hasten its adoption.”

The move from the NCQA comes after a federal task force reversed its earlier position on the Cologuard test.

See a WisBusiness.com story last month on the task force’s reversal:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=372747

See the NCQA announcement:
http://www.ncqa.org/newsroom/details/ncqa-seeks-publics-help-on-revisions-to-colorectal-cancer-screening-measure?ArtMID=11280&ArticleID=49&tabid=2659#sthash.0i89bVhE.dpuf

See the Exact Sciences release:
http://investor.exactsciences.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/NCQA-Proposes-Inclusion-of-Cologuard-in-2017-HEDIS-Quality-Measures/default.aspx