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Wednesday, September 16, 2015 5:04 PM

Happy eCQM Days Are Here

Written by Kay Jackson, Education and Advisory Manager, Iatric Systems

Meaningful Use Stage 2 Changes imageThe 2016 IPPS final rule has been released for clinical quality measures. It now requires hospitals to report Meaningful Use clinical quality measures via an electronic submission method for 2016.  

As a result, many customers are asking me to explain the difference between eCQM and an electronic submission method. If you’re also seeking clarification, here’s what you need to know:

eCQM refers to a clinical quality measure that requires vendors to certify their products based upon the testing specifications listed in the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL). For example, Iatric Systems certified Meaningful Use Manager on all 29 CQMs.

In contrast, electronic submission is something that hospitals need to do — it’s how they have to report their clinical quality performance. In 2016 CMS will require hospitals to electronically submit performance data on four separate clinical quality measures. Hospitals will be able to choose, from the list of measures included in the Stage 2 final rule, which four clinical quality measures they want to report on.

Please note; Measure 3, The Emergency Department measure, is not eligible for electronic reporting and is not available as a Clinical Quality Measure to select from in the list of measures.

It’s important to be aware of one other change regarding eCQMs. CMS has changed the hospital submission and report periods for the eCQMs.

As of right now, the plan is for hospitals to select eCQM data from either the third quarter of 2016 (July 1 – Sept 30, 2016) or fourth quarter of 2016 (Oct 1- Dec 31, 2016.) Reporting on the CQM data chosen must take place by February 28, 2017.

What do all of these changes mean to your hospital? Your scores and reporting now MATTER, and have a direct impact on your MU success. What’s more, by not reporting on eCQMs, your hospital will face penalties in the future for Meaningful Use and all other Quality Reporting Programs.

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