NQF to consider new measures for Meaningful Use

Stakeholders that wish to weigh in on potentially new quality measures for the Meaningful Use incentive program will soon have the opportunity to do so, now that the National Quality Forum (NQF) has started reviewing suggested measures for use in 20 different federal programs.

The NQF's Measure Applicants Partnership (MAP), comprised of about 150 leaders and experts in healthcare, launched its annual review of proposed new measures Dec. 1. Of the 202 measures being reviewed, four pertain to eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals in the Meaningful Use program, while 31 relate to eligible professionals. Many of the measures being considered for the incentive program would apply to other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services programs, as well.

Some of the measures being considered for eligible professionals include:

  • Cognitive impairment assessment among at-risk older adults
  • Chronic pain due to osteoarthritis
  • Coordination of care with emergency department referrals
  • Documentation of a health care proxy for patients with cognitive impairment
  • Gout monitoring
  • Intimate partner domestic violence screening

The measures being considered for hospitals include unplanned readmissions, timely evaluation of high-risk individuals in the emergency department and adverse drug events regarding inappropriate renal dosing of anticoagulants.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will not adopt all of the measures; measures not selected for use in the current rulemaking cycle will remain under consideration.

The public will be able to comment on MAP's measure recommendations beginning Dec. 23.

The measurement review comes during a time of flux for the Meaningful Use program, as ONC looks to determine its future direction and focus beyond incentive payments. The Health IT Policy Committee's Quality Measure Workgroup has been folded into a new Advanced Health Models and Meaningful Use Workgroup. Many have called for fewer measures in the program.

To learn more:
- read the announcement