Quality Measures
The next section of the RFC discusses clinical quality measures (CQMs). The committee will use the information is collects in response to the questions posed in this section to provide the framework for further exploration and development of “HIT-sensitive, parsimonious, longitudinal, outcomes-focused [clinical quality measures] CQMs for the EHR Incentive Program.” In advance of Stage 3, the committee intends to focus more broadly on measure components (“patient centeredness”), the environment in which the measures operate (the “CQM pipeline”), and the extent to which the measures support quality improvement.
The committee begins by posing four questions that address the appropriateness of what it describes as the fundamental mission and the five attributes of the CQM set. The rest of the quality measures section lists a number of questions within each of the three focus areas described above. Within patient centeredness, the questions cover broadening stakeholder input and integrating patient-generated and patient-directed data with EHR clinical data. The CQM pipeline questions relate to the value of process measures versus outcome measures, next steps in the measure development lifecycle, how to align meaningful use with functional objectives, identification of exemplars that address priority domains, and how to use the EHR program for more developmental and innovative work. The quality improvement support section lists questions on designing measures that affect quality improvement and developing and expanding HIT tools that leverage the use of eCQM for population management.
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