Hospitals have until June 1 to preview their Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, measure group score, individual measure results, and peer grouping.

The updated guidance highlights the importance of sustaining a QAPI program over time and increasing engagement by the hospital’s governing body.

America's Essential Hospitals urges CMS to swiftly restore full Medicare Part B drug payment rates for hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and define a select group of hospitals with a safety net mission.

Health care providers have until Aug. 30 to download their preview reports before CMS shares quality data publicly in October.

This is the second star ratings update since the agency updated its methodology in 2020 to include the use of peer grouping.

Hospitals have until June 16 to preview their Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, measure group score, and individual measure results, along with peer grouping.

Due to a calculation error in measure results used for calendar year 2021 public reporting, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has delayed until July the overall hospital star ratings update originally scheduled for April.

In response to the calendar year 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, America's Essential Hospitals urged CMS to halt elimination of the inpatient-only list and to restore adequate payment to hospitals in the 340B program and to off-campus provider-based departments.

America's Essential Hospitals commented on several policy proposals of interest to essential hospitals in the Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule and responded to a request for information on closing the health equity gap in hospital quality programs.

A proposed rule from CMS includes numerous changes for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2022, including a 2.8 percent increase in inpatient payment rates and updates to quality reporting programs and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published updated overall hospital quality star ratings on its Care Compare website; the ratings were last updated in January 2020. America's Essential Hospitals has expressed continued concern about the fairness and reliability of the ratings.

Hospitals have 30 days to review their reports before public reporting to Care Compare.

The Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule for calendar year 2021 continues cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and off-campus provider-based departments, and updates the overall hospital star ratings methodology.

The proposed rules would deepen Medicare Part B cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, continue site-neutral payment policies, and revise the overall hospital star rating methodology. The association urged CMS to protect funding for essential hospitals and access to care.

In this second report on the topic, the agency describes three findings: there is no systematic or standard collection of social risk data; dual enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid remains a predictor of poor outcomes; and there are limited efforts to identify effective and scalable interventions.

Both chambers passed a bill providing more than $8 billion to combat the new coronavirus; House leaders now are discussing legislation to mitigate economic impacts associated with the virus. A Senate letter calling to incorporate social determinants into hospital star ratings closes tomorrow.

Congressional leaders are holding several hearings to inform their COVID-19 response and negotiating legislation that could provide up to $8 billion in emergency supplemental funding to respond to the outbreak.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar will discuss the president's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget at several congressional hearings. A bipartisan Senate letter calls for incorporating social determinants into star ratings. A new association work group focuses on the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation.

The final rules for Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2020 also expand access to opioid use disorder treatment and establish a prior authorization process for certain services.

Health care providers have until Dec. 3 to download their preview reports, which include overall hospital quality star ratings.

Facilities located in areas designated as emergency or major disaster areas will be exempt from provisions of Medicare quality reporting programs.

An NEJM Catalyst article assesses four public hospital quality reporting programs' ability to classify hospital performance.

Hospitals in the Inpatient Quality Reporting, Prospective Payment System–Exempt Cancer Hospital Quality Reporting, and Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting programs can view their preview reports through May 21.

The agency posted potential changes to the star ratings program for public comment, including potential hospital peer grouping.

America’s Essential Hospitals and three other national hospital groups urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to postpone its February publication of overall hospital star ratings.

Hospitals have until Dec. 30 to preview their quality data before it is published on the Hospital Compare website in February 2019.

The agency will hold educational webinars to help health care providers understand the new user interface for Hospital Compare preview reports.

The Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule for calendar year 2019 broadens the scope of cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and to off-campus provider-based departments; in a statement, the association strongly objected to these additional payment cuts.

Hospitals have until Aug. 25 to preview their quality data before publication on the Hospital Compare website in October.

A new proposed rule for Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System would broaden the scope of cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and to off-campus provider-based departments; it also contains provisions related to quality reporting and transparency.

Responding to concerns raised by America’s Essential Hospitals and other stakeholders, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced it will postpone the July public release of overall hospital star ratings.

Hospitals have until June 2 to preview their quality data before it is published on the Hospital Compare website in July.

The reports provide estimated hospital-level proportions of dual-eligible patients, peer group assignments, and payment adjustment information using the program's new stratified methodology.

Group reporting through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services web interface must be completed by March 16; all other Merit-based Incentive Payment System data must be submitted by March 31.

Hospitals have until March 2 to preview their quality data before it is published on the Hospital Compare website in April.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System–eligible clinicians and groups may apply for hardship exceptions due to connectivity issues or extreme circumstances, such as disasters.

The proposed rule would further cut payments to non-excepted provider-based departments to 25 percent of the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System rate and change certain quality reporting requirements.

Exceptions are available for Merit-based Incentive Payment System eligible clinicians and groups that experienced insufficient internet connectivity, uncontrollable circumstances, or other issues; applications are due Oct. 1.

Clinicians enter their national provider identifier into the tool to determine whether they must submit data to the merit-based incentive payment system.

The update for the 2018 performance year aligns electronic clinical quality measure specifications with current clinical guidelines and code systems.

Hospitals have until May 5 to review overall Hospital Compare star rating and until May 10 to review value-based purchasing hospital-specific reports.

CMS on Dec. 19 refreshed its Hospital Compare site, including data on the Ambulatory Surgical Center Program, Hospital Readmission Reduction Program & more.

Under the rule, CMS would increase the OPPS payment rate by 1.65 percent and provide flexibility in the meaningful use of EHRs, among other things.

Hospitals and eligible professionals now can register to submit National Health Care Survey data in 2017.

The rule includes the annual payment update to inpatient payment rates and changes to the Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment methodology.

The agency analyzed how subsets of hospitals, including those defined as a safety net, performed in the overall hospital star rating system.

The overall star rating hospital-specific reports will be available to hospitals for 30 days, starting from the June 22 reload date.

In comments to CMS, America's Essential Hospitals argues for a delay to re-evaluate ratings methodology changes and the potential to disproportionately disadvantage essential hospitals.

Eligible hospitals have until Dec. 31 to submit data through QualityNet for the Inpatient Quality Reporting and Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive programs.

Agency to host Nov. 30 webinar to provide information and answer questions about the bundled payment model for hip and knee replacement.

Changes include reducing OPPS payment by 0.3 percent, relaxing two-midnight policy requirements, and updating OQR measures.

Feedback due Nov. 17 on provisions to implement MIPS and APM participation incentives; MIPS quality measures of particular interest to hospitals

CMS requests feedback on a range of provisions relating to MIPS and incentives for participation in APMs, including whether to stratify quality measure data by demographic factors.

The briefing included a panel of four experts serving different Medicaid populations who spoke about continuing to strengthen the program and the role of Medicaid expansion in increasing access to care.

In comments on the CY 2016 OPPS proposed rule, the association calls on CMS to consider the unique challenges of caring for the most vulnerable, including in relation to the two-midnight policy and ambulatory payment classification.

Comments call on CMS to ensure ratings are meaningful and accurate, avoid consumer confusion, and reflect vulnerable patients' socioeconomic and demographic circumstances.

Extension to Aug. 28 applies only to quality reporting on health care-associated infections (HAIs), not clinical data submissions through QualityNet.

America's Essential Hospitals joins other associations in calling for final action on a 90-day reporting period for 2015, but warns that the delay in a final rule has made other requirements impossible to achieve.

Hospitals in the overall quality rating system dry run can provide feedback until Aug. 17 and weigh in during the Aug. 13 call.

Comments urge CMS for flexibility, the allowance of certain direct payments, and regulations that reflect states' ability to achieve broader policy goals through the Medicaid Program.

Hospitals participating in CMS' dry run of its new overall quality rating system are encouraged to provide feedback and ask questions via email and during the Aug. 13 call.

Proposed CCJR model would bundle Medicare payments to acute care hospitals for hip and knee replacement surgery in 75 metropolitan statistical areas; hospitals would be held financially accountable for meeting quality and cost targets for entire episode of care.

The June 24 call will discuss methodology for the overall star rating, hospital-specific reports, and lessons learned from testing.

The call will discuss updates to electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) used in quality reporting programs and the impact of their implementation for providers and quality leaders.

May 29 webinar will focus on quality reporting program proposals, impact of changes to HAC Reduction Program and Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

The model saved $384 million over a two-year time period and is the first alternative payment pilot to meet criteria for expansion to additional sites.

America's Essential Hospitals President and CEO, other Partnership for Medicaid co-chairs, call partnership proposal the answer to lack of comprehensive, standardized reporting framework

National impact assessment finds 95 percent of 119 studied quality measures improved during the 2006 to 2012 study period

Hospitals must prove meaningful use in 2014 to receive a 2014 incentive payment and avoid a 1 percent payment adjustment in 2016.

The national provider call will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1:30 – 3 pm ET.

Congress concluded business until after the Nov. 4 election, passing legislation to fund the government through Dec. 11. Bills funding children's health services and addressing postacute care quality were also sent to the president's desk.

Ratings will start with the April 2015 release of Hospital Compare data. Dry run will occur between Sept. 15 and Oct. 14.

The association sent a support letter to House Energy and Commerce ranking members commending their effort to extend CHIP through FY 2019. The proposed legislation would also extend Medicaid primary care payments and bolster quality measures.

Data collection for a chart-abstracted sepsis measure is delayed until further notice based on an NQF recommendation.

CMS is compiling three TEPs to provide technical input to CMS contractors on the development, selection, and maintenance of quality measures. Nominations are due Sept. 12 and Sept. 19.

Interactive resource for eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Care Record (EHR) Incentive Program will help hospitals report clinical quality measures for 2014.

Data entry deadline has passed, contact National Healthcare Safety Network help desk for questions or assistance

NQF board adopts recommendation to assess sociodemographic risk adjustment of certain quality measures during a trial period.

MAP released a draft report reviewing the core set of health care quality measures for adults enrolled in Medicaid and is accepting comments until July 30.

CMS will introduce star ratings to Hospital Compare, Dialysis Facility Compare, and Home Health Compare as part of an effort to make information on quality of care easier to understand and compare.

CMS is inviting interested stakeholders to review and comment on a hospitalwide all-cause unplanned readmission hybrid electronic clinical quality measure.

CMS seeks perspectives on strengths and weaknesses of the program and processes surrounding data accuracy.

Acute care facilities that participate in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program must enter Medicare beneficiary numbers on event records for all Medicare patients into the National Healthcare Safety Network, beginning July 1.

The bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider socioeconomic status of hospital patient populations in its calculation of penalties under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

CMS has released a call for feedback on the June 10 draft quality reporting document architecture guide for eligible professionals and hospitals to use for 2015 clinical quality measure reporting. Feedback is due June 27.

A nationwide survey of adult Medicaid enrollees will be conducted this fall. Results will identify state-specific and nationwide measures of health care access, barriers to care, satisfaction with providers, and patient experiences with Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service providers.

CMS is urging hospitals to register soon for the QualityNet Secure Portal to ensure access on July 1 to meet reporting requirements for the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting and Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Programs.

CMS issued a final rule Friday, May 16, on 2015 standards for health insurance marketplaces and the insurance market. Among other provisions, CMS finalized measures for a quality rating system that would require health insurance issuers operating through the marketplaces to collect, validate, and report data on quality metrics for qualified health plans.

The association said that CMS should implement the QRS in a way that protects consumer access to ECPs in the marketplaces. It also urged CMS to ensure the measures used in the QRS are endorsed by the National Quality Forum and risk adjusted for socioeconomic factors.

America's Essential Hospitals supports NQF's recommendations to adjust some health care performance measures for sociodemographic factors.

Starting July 1, IQR and OQR data must be submitted through the secure portal. CMS encourages hospitals to enroll in the portal and complete the identity proofing process by May 1.

The measure, OP-31/ASC-11, is part of the ASC Quality Reporting Program and the OQR Program. Data collection, which was scheduled to begin April 1, will now begin Jan. 1, 2015. America's Essential Hospitals successfully encouraged CMS to delay the measure, arguing the measure was not properly tested for the ASC and outpatient settings.

As part of the meaningful use program, participating hospitals must report data for eCQMs that cover three of six National Quality Strategy domains. The original eCQM specifications were released in 2012 and are updated annually.

CMS proposes that QHP issuers collect enrollee satisfaction data for certain QHPs. This data will be one of the components used to determine QHP quality ratings. America's Essential Hospitals will submit comments on CMS' proposal for collecting enrollee satisfaction data.

NQF makes eight recommendations to enhance the ability of policymakers and consumers to make accurate conclusions about the quality of care and prevent unintended consequences, such as a worsening of care disparities. Members are encouraged to submit comments by April 16.

The proposal calls for a common, mandatory set of Medicaid quality measures to be reported by all states. Panelists discussed the importance of the Medicaid program and the need strengthen and improve it.

NQF recommends adjusting some health care performance measures to account for sociodemographic risk factors. Members are encouraged to submit comments on the draft recommendations by April 16.

CMS will host a National Provider Call March 18, from 1:30 to 3 pm Eastern time, on 2014 Medicare quality reporting programs. During the call, officials will provide an overview of how to report quality measures in various Medicare programs, including those for electronic health records incentives and accountable care organizations.

Starting July 1, IQR and OQR data must be submitted through the secure portal. CMS encourages hospitals to enroll in the Secure Portal and complete the identity proofing process by May 1.

CMS says all 32 pioneer ACOs improved quality, performed better than published rates in fee-for-service Medicare

Rule includes proposed formula to make Medicare DSH reductions under ACA