A mandatory full year of eCQM reporting is being considered for hospitals reporting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) program in 2017. CMS released the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule at the end of April.
This week, we review the proposed changes for eCQM reporting in 2017 to the IQR program that will impact your hospital.
In a previous blog, we reviewed the 2016 requirements in detail. Here we contrast the requirements for 2016 to the proposed changes for 2017.
2016 IQR eCQM Requirements: |
2017 IQR eCQM Proposed Requirements: |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The proposed changes to the IQR program will introduce new challenges to hospitals for 2017. Mandatory electronic reporting of all 15 eCQMs for the entirety of 2017 may seem daunting to hospitals that haven’t yet formed a plan for submission in 2016.
In 2016, hospitals had to choose four of the 28 eCQMs. Typically, hospitals chose measures they had already implemented such as Stroke, VTE and ED eCQMs. In 2017, an additional challenge for many hospitals will be the requirement to submit data for all 15 eCQMs. The proposed rule will require many hospitals to implement historically less frequently reported eCQMs, which are highlighted in red in the table below.
While the ruling isn’t yet final, hospitals should get serious about electronic quality reporting now while they still have time. July 1st marks the start of the first mandatory eCQM reporting quarter for the 2016 IQR program. The CMS eCQM data validation testing period is now open for test submissions. If you think your hospital will not be able to successfully meet these reporting requirements, find a CEHRT vendor partner that has a long track record of success with eCQM reporting.
For help with a certified eCQM solution, contact us. Medisolv’s ENCOR Quality Reporting and Management software solution provides hospitals with the tools they need to meet the CMS reporting requirements.
Comments