“Meaningful Measures,” New CMS Initiative

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced a new approach to quality measurement this week. “Meaningful Measures” will involve only assessing those core issues that are most vital to providing high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. CMS released a statement that said it “aims to focus on outcome-based measures going forward as opposed to trying to micromanage processes.” The new initiative is included in four new rules also released this week: Physician Fee Schedule Final Policy, OPPS Rule, Home Health Agencies (HHAs) and QPP Year Two. AAHKS will be providing summaries of these rules soon, which total more than 3,000 pages. Full story.

• Summary of CMS Quality Payment Program (QPP) Year 2 Final Rule – EBG
• Summary of CMS CY 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System Final Rule – EBG