There was discussion in the FY2017 Hospice Wage Index final rule about the timetable and contents of CMS’s Hospice Compare website which will include both HIS (all seven measures) and Hospice CAHPS information when it is launched in Spring/Summer 2017.
This approach is consistent with the public reporting used in other CMS Compare websites where consumers are able to search for all Medicare approved providers that serve their city or zip code. CMS states that no consumer or other user of the Hospice Compare website will be able to post comments or grievances on the website.
CMS will use data collected by hospices during Quarter 4 (Q4) CY 2014 and Q1–Q3 CY 2015 for the hospice compare launch and based on analyses conducted by CMS to establish reportability of the seven HIS measures, 71% through 90% of hospices would be participate in public reporting, depending on the measure.
Preview reports in CMS’s CASPER system will be available for providers before data is publicly reported. These reports will give hospices 30 days to review their quality measure data, but they cannot correct any data at that point. There are opportunities for providers to correct data submitted to CMS prior to the generation of the preview report.
Hospice Patient Assessment Instrument
CMS communicated that they are in the early process of developing a standardized hospice patient assessment instrument that would include data elements collected concurrently with provision of care. CMS’s rationale for developing this assessment instrument is that it would allow for a more substantial data collection to occur which could inform development of new quality measures that are meaningful to hospice patients, their families and caregivers, and other stakeholders.
CMS expects the tool to be an expanded HIS which would include all current HIS items as well as additional clinical information that could be used develop new quality measures or for hospice payment modification. CMS acknowledged commenter’s suggestions that the tool be flexible, incorporate input from various members of the IDT, and accommodate circumstances unique to hospice, such as the “care of the imminently dying and patient/caregivers’ right to decline services or treatment.”
While there is no implementation date provided in this final rule, the tool is expected to be developed by CMS in the near future.
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