We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Learn more here.Close Me
In response to a recent Request for Information on Quality
Measurement Enabled by Health IT (RFI) from the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the American Hospital
Association (AHA) commented that accurate quality measures cannot
be achieved without reconfiguring the e-measures currently used to
achieve Stage 1 meaningful use (Stage 1) for electronic health
records (EHRs) under the Health Information Technology for Economic
and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). The AHA agreed that automated
quality measurements have the potential to be crucial tools for
improving the quality of care in the healthcare system. However,
the AHA pointed out, clinical quality measures (CQMs) used in Stage
1 contained "known errors and were not properly field
tested." The AHA called for all future CQMs for hospitals to
be endorsed through the National Quality Forum (NQF).
The AHA also called for more provider involvement in the design
and testing of EHRs. Currently, there may not be much incentive for
provider involvement because the data collection is burdensome and
the real-time feedback desired by providers is unavailable.
Furthermore, as was noted in a complementary AHRQ report to the
RFI, there are more than 80 different programs by a variety of
actors, both government and private, seeking to improve quality
measurement enabled by health IT. The AHA noted that the multitude
of initiatives creates confusion and sometimes contrasting
requirements.
Overall, AHRQ plans to use the RFI responses to create a summary
report for the summer of 2013. Additionally, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Final Rule for
Stage 2 meaningful use on Aug. 23, 2012. The Final Rule will be
implemented in 2014. The rule amends the reporting requirements for
CQMs and adds more CQM choices for hospitals. Finally, CQMs used in
Stage 2 have "either undergone feasibility testing in EHR
systems and clinical settings or were finalized in Stage 1 final
rule ... and have been updated based on experiences with reporting
those CQMs." As of Sept. 26, 2012, a complete list of the new
CQMs is still pending.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
To print this article, all you need is to be registered on Mondaq.com.
Click to Login as an existing user or Register so you can print this article.
Whether you are an employer that provides health insurance for your employees, a business in the growing healthcare industry, a hospital, or other medical provider—or you provide services to any of those entities—you need to know about changes to the privacy and security rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Understanding the complexities of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules is often a challenge for health care providers and consumers.
Marilyn Tavenner received bipartisan support from members of the Senate Committee on Finance in her confirmation hearing to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) though a full Senate vote is being held up, the president released his FY 2014 budget proposal with health care reform and specified reimbursement reductions to providers and manufacturers totaling $400 billion over 10 years sprinkled throughout it, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius
The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services has recently issued an updated Special Advisory Bulletin on the Effect of Exclusion from Participation in Federal Health Care Programs.
On Tuesday, the North Carolina legislature has enacted into law, pending the governor's signature, a prohibition on the use of most favored nations clauses in contracts between commercial health insurers and providers.
