CMS releases draft quality measure framework

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the release of its draft Quality Measure Development Plan, a strategic framework for future clinician quality measurement development.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) further supports the path to value in healthcare with the new Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and incentives for providers to participate in alternative payment models (APMs), according to the announcement from Kate Goodrich, MD, MHS, director of CMS' Center for Clinical Standards & Quality.

To accelerate the alignment of quality measurement and program policies, MACRA sunsets payment adjustments for three existing clinician reporting and incentive programs:

• Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
• Value-based Payment Modifier (VM)
• Meaningful Use (MU)

"The Measure Development Plan outlines how we’ll draw from our quality measure development experience to build a measure portfolio for MIPS and APMs. Existing measurement strategies, policies, and principles will guide our efforts," according to Goodrich.

The Measure Development Plan focuses on gaps her team identified in the quality measure sets currently in use in PQRS, VM and MU and offers recommendations for filling these gaps. According to the announcement, future measure development will prioritize person- and caregiver-centered experience of care, patient-reported outcomes and patient health outcomes, communication and care coordination, and appropriate use of resources across six quality domains:

1. Clinical Care
2. Safety
3. Care Coordination
4. Patient and Caregiver Experience
5. Population Health and Prevention
6. Efficiency and Cost Reduction

In addition, these measures will promote efficient data collection, better ensure provider accountability—individual and shared, and yield publicly reported quality results that consumers can use to make informed healthcare decisions.

The Measure Development Plan describes how CMS will work collaboratively with federal and state partners and private payers to create an aligned set of measures that reduces provider burden.  The plan also describes resources and activities that can contribute to the development of measures applicable to a wide variety of stakeholders.

"As our portfolio of measures evolves, we will continue to seek input on the draft plan and its stated priorities from clinicians, payers, patients, caregivers and other stakeholders," said Goodrich. "We’ll review and consider all comments we receive as we develop the final Measure Development Plan, which we will post by May 1, 2016.

"The  Measure Development Plan directly supports the implementation of MIPS and APMs and your input is important to us. These programs move the Medicare program and our overall healthcare system toward paying for the quality rather than the quantity of care delivered to patients."

Read the draft plan.