The latest CMS news for you

Volume 01 | October 6, 2017

Your monthly news & updates about CMS reporting requirements

Highlights of the latest news from CMS

Quality Is The REAL Direct Difference!

Upcoming Events

Pioneers in Quality™ Proven Practices webinar series features insights from St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh, New York, and the BayCare Health System, based in Florida. Learn to create programs to increase physician accountability for eCQM data, help you physicians improve the accuracy of the date they collect, and review eCQM data more effectively and identify variations. Tuesday, October 10, 2017, from 9–10 a.m. (PT)/10–11 a.m. (MT)/11 a.m.–noon (CT)/noon–1 p.m. (ET). Register at The Joint Commission website:

The Joint Commission

October 18, 2017 OQR Program Webinar - Reviewing reports to ensure your success.

Visit the Quality Reporting Center to Register

Inpatient Hospital Quality Programs Outreach and Education October 11, 2017 Webinar: Inpatient Hospital Quality Programs: Payment Updates & Overview Wednesday, October 11, 2017 , at 2 p.m.

Click here to register.

eCQM Update

In September, CMS published an addendum to the eCQM specifications to update relevant eCQM value sets for Q4 2017 reporting. This addendum affects IQR and EHR programs. This update included deletion, replacement, and addition of relevant codes.

Need more information? Visit the eCQI Resource Center:

eCQI Resource Center

Calendar Year 2018 Meaningful Use Requirements

Wow - is it that time already? Do you know what is required for CY 2018? Here is a summary:

In CY2018, hospitals are required to electronically report to CMS four eCQMs for one self-selected calendar quarter. The Joint Commission (TJC) has also updated its requirements aligning with the CMS eCQM reporting.

The TJC document detailing revised requirements for CY2017 and CY2018 reporting is available at:

The Joint Commission

For CY 2018 available eCQM's visit:

Calendar Year 2018 eCQMs

Preview Reports Available Now!

December 2017 Hospital Compare Preview Reports are available through the QualityNet Secure Portal for participating hospitals from October 2 through October 31, 2017.

Hospital-Specific Reports for FY 2018 Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program are currently available. Corrections can be made until October 13, 2017.

Need additional services? We can help!

Did you know we provide abstraction services for core measures, non-core measures, registry, OPPE-FPPE, NHSN, peer review, and others? If you have any data abstraction needs please contact us for more information. All you have to do is respond to this email to get started.

Mandy Budny, RN, MSN, CPHQ | Direct Difference, Inc | 520-442-0016 | [email protected]