Stage 2 Meaningful Use Clinical Quality Measures(CQMs) – The Boulevard for High Incentives

Quality Meliorism in Healthcare

Quality improvement in the U.S. healthcare system is the key concern for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONC). These governing bodies have devised a tool, the meaningful use Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) – so as to assist the evaluation and pursuance of the quality of healthcare services rendered by eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals (EHs) and critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the healthcare arena.

As a part of this dynamic initiative, CMS uses clinical quality measures (CQMs) in an array of featured-programs. ONC endorses that electronic health record (EHR) technologies are competent in exactly computing the CQM outcomes for the meaningful use incentive plan.

The Mandatory 1^st Stage in Meaningful Use CQMs

CMS has made an announcement on September 4 2012, about the final rule that stipulates the Stage 2 standards for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals (EHs), and critical access hospitals (CAHs) to facilitate their partaking in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. All providers could move to Stage 2 criteria only after the accomplishment of Stage 1 meaningful use CQMs.

“Stage 2” CQMs – Reporting Pattern

According to CMS, in Stage 2, CQMs are no longer a core meaningful use objective; nevertheless, EPs, EHs and CAHs must still present CQMs so as to fruitfully partake in the meaningful use incentive program.

i) Meaningful Use CQM for 2013

– Eligible Professionals (EPs) will proceed with the same reporting pattern from the 44 measures concluded for Stage 1.

– Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) will proceed with the same reporting pattern from the 15 measures finalized for Stage 1.

In 2013, there are two reporting methods offered for reporting the Stage 1 measures:

1.  Attestation: Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) partaking in the Meaningful Use Incentive Program have their deadline till November 30, 2013 to attest meaningful use of the data collected during the FY 2013 reporting period.
2.  eReporting Pilots: Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) EHR Incentive Program Pilot is the conduit for EPs, whereas eReporting Pilot is the conduit for EHs and CAHs.

ii) Meaningful Use CQM for 2014 and Beyond

From the beginning of 2014, all providers, regardless of whether they are in Stage 1 or Stage 2 of meaningful use, must report on the 2014 CQMs concluded in the Stage 2 rule.

• EPs are required to report on 9 out of 64 total CQMs.
• EHs and CAHs are required to report on 16 out of 29 total CQMs. 

Besides, all providers must opt for CQMs from at least 3 of the 6 key healthcare policy areas suggested by HHS’s National Quality Strategy:

• Engagement  of Patient and Family
• Patient Security and Safety
• Patient Care Coordination
• Population and Public Health Domain
• Well-organized utilization of Healthcare Resources
• Efficacy in Clinical Processes.

If you have any query with the meaningful use Clinical Quality Measures – Touch base with BillingParadise for a free consultation.