Technical Expert Panel
CMS Releases Hospice Quality Reporting Program Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) has been developing a new Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) data collection tool – HOPE (Hospice Outcomes & Patient Evaluation). The HOPE is a standardized assessment instrument that hospices would use as part of the comprehensive assessment process to collect clinical and demographic patient data that is submitted […]
Read MoreHill Message to CMS on Hospice Special Focus Program Aligns with NAHC
On Wednesday, October 4th, four members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to CMS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressing their concerns with CMS’ proposed design for the hospice special focus program (SFP), details of which were laid out in the CY2024 Home Health proposed payment rule. The lawmakers’ letter echoes the concerns […]
Read MoreExpanded HHVBP Model: Recruitment Announcement – Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the Expanded HHVBP Model
Abt Associates is currently recruiting a wide range of home health stakeholders—for example, providers, patient advocates, and methodologists/researchers with expertise in areas such as performance measurement, quality of care, and health equity—to participate in a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to provide input on potential refinements to the expanded HHVBP Model. The Call for TEP materials, […]
Read MoreExpanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model
Please consider sharing this newsletter within your organization. The October 2023 Interim Performance Report (IPR) In October 2023, the second quarterly Interim Performance Report (IPR) will be available to home health agencies (HHAs) via iQIES. The quarterly IPRs provide HHAs with the cohort assignment, performance year measure data for the 12 most recent months, and […]
Read MorePost-Acute Quality Care Reporting Programs Update
Acumen, LLC and Abt Associates Inc. (hereafter referred to as Acumen and Abt) support CMS in the development and maintenance of quality measures for the Post-Acute Care (PAC) and Hospice Quality Reporting Programs (QRPs). The PAC and Hospice QRPs aim to characterize provider performance across various dimensions of care. With the support of Acumen and […]
Read MoreTEP Opportunity: Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model Implementation & Monitoring
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted with Abt Associates, Inc. to support the implementation of the HHVBP Model, including the development of refinements to the measures and scoring methodology, first for the original Model and now for the expanded HHVBP Model. The contract name is Research, Measurement, Assessment, Design and Analysis: Home Health Value-Based […]
Read MoreNAHC to CMS: Hospice Special Focus Program Needs to Be Fair & Accurate
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) filed comments yesterday in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 home health rule, telling CMS that some aspects of the hospice Special Focus Program are flawed and need to be fixed to ensure accuracy and fairness. In resposne to reports from […]
Read MoreCMS Releases Health Equity Measure TEP Report
In November 2022 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) convened a technical expert panel (TEP) to provide input on the development of a health equity structural composite measure for home health and hospice providers (Home Health & Hospice HE TEP). The final TEP included members from 12 states representing all U.S. regions, with […]
Read MoreNAHC Board Chair Selected for Hospice Special Focus Program TEP
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 required the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement various hospice survey reforms. In the CY 2022 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule, CMS addressed these reforms, including development of a Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). NAHC was one of the stakeholders at the time […]
Read MoreCMS Calls for Technical Expert Panel Applicants
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it is convening two technical expert panels (TEPs): Hospice Special Focus Program Technical Expert Panel Health Equity Structural Measure Technical Expert Panel. NAHC members may be interested in applying for one or both of these panels. Details of the TEPs and application/nomination instructions are below. The […]
Read MoreCMS Calls for Technical Expert Panel Applicants
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it is convening two technical expert panels (TEPs): Hospice Special Focus Program Technical Expert Panel Health Equity Structural Measure Technical Expert Panel. NAHC members may be interested in applying for one or both of these panels. Details of the TEPs and application/nomination instructions are below. […]
Read MoreHospice Quality Reporting Program 2021 Information Gathering Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Hospice Quality Reporting Program 2021 Information Gathering Report, which provides information from literature reviews and expert interviews that supports expansion of the hospice quality reporting program. Specific topics include treatment of moderate to severe pain, patient preferences, spiritual care, social needs, medication management, and other topics […]
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