Last year, CMS finalized the removal of dozens of measures from the IQR program in 2019 and beyond to focus on more meaningful, patient-centered outcome measures. You can check out the full list of IQR measures being removed for 2019-2021 here.
In this rule, CMS proposes to make additional measure changes:
• Adopt two new opioid-related eCQMs beginning with the CY 2021 reporting period:
o Safe Use of Opioids – Concurrent Prescribing
o Hospital Harm – Opioid-Related Adverse Events
• Remove the Claims-Based Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission measure and replace it with the Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission (Hybrid HWR) measure. CMS is proposing to start with two voluntary reporting periods, July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022, and July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023, before making the measure a requirement in 2024.
The Hybrid HWR Measure
Keep in mind that the voluntary submissions for the Hybrid HWR measure will have no impact on your Medicare payment determination. As part of the pilot program in 2018, CMS received 150 voluntary hybrid submissions—and a whopping 69 of those were submitted by Medisolv clients! Check out the video below to learn more about the Hybrid HWR measure.