Spotlight & Announcements
1/24/2013
A new version of the User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection, Version 1.2, is available for download. Providers can access the latest version at the bottom of this webpage under “Downloads.”
- Providers who downloaded the User Guide for Data Collection prior to 1/24/2013 may either:
- Reprint Version 1.2 of the User Guide
- Download the change table included in Version 1.2 of the User Guide and make necessary edits to hard copies of Version 1.1 of the User Guide
- Providers who have not yet downloaded the User Guide for Data Collection should download Version 1.2
01/02/2013
The link to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission website is now available: https://hospice.qtso.com. This link is also located in the “Related Links” section of the Data Submission page which can be accessed from the list on the left side of this page. Details regarding registration, account deactivation and data submission can be found on the Data Submission page.
12/13/2012
CMS is hosting a Special Open Door Forum for all hospice providers on December 19 from 1-2 pm EST. The Special Open Door Forum will present information about the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, specifically about the upcoming availability of the data submission website. Hospice providers will learn about where to access the data submission website, how to create an account, and important information about the data submission process. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.
- Participant dial in: 1-800-837-1935
- Passcode: 81540883
12/6/2012
WebEx
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission WebEx recording and training slides are now available on the Hospice Training page of the QTSO website, https://www.qtso.com.
Specifically, Hospices can access the WebEx via https://www.qtso.com/hospicetrain.html. Additional information on the WebEx can be found on the Data Submission section in the list on the left side of this page.
User Guide
Technical User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Entry and Submission Version 1.3
An updated version of the Technical User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Entry and Submission is available under Downloads on the “Data Submission” section in the list to the left on this page.
11/27/2012
WebEx
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission WebEx was removed on 11/16/12 due to technical difficulties and will be reposted once the issue is rectified. The anticipated date of reposting is between 11/30/and 12/7/2012.
User Guides and Q+A
Technical User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Entry and Submission Version 1.2
An updated version of the Technical User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Entry and Submission -- is available in the Downloads section of the “Data Submission” section in the list to the left on this page.
User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection and Hospice QRP Q+A
Minor revisions have been made to both the “User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection” and the “Hospice QRP Q+A”. Both of these documents have been modified in order to provide further clarification regarding the timing of the follow-up question for the NQF #0209 Pain Measure. In order to assure they have the most up-to-date information pertinent to data collection specifications for the NQF #0209 Pain Measure, providers should:
1. Download the Errata sheet and revised Page 25 of the “Hospice Quality Reporting User Guide for Data Collection”: Both the errata sheet and revised page 25 are available for download at the bottom of this webpage under “Downloads.” The errata sheet outlines the changes to Page 25 of the User Guide. A revised Page 25 of the User Guide is also available. Providers should print the revised Page 25 to replace what is currently Page 25 in of Version 1.1 of the User Guide.
2. Download the revised “Hospice QRP Q+A November 2012”: Changes have been made to “A (Q45-48)” and “A Q54” on page 9 and page 11, respectively, in the Q+A document to further clarify the timing of the follow-up question for the NQF #0209 Pain Measure. Providers should download the “Hospice QRP Q&A November 2012” document available at the bottom of this webpage, under “Downloads” to assure they have the most up-to-date information.
11/6/2012
Hospice Quality Reporting Program data collection period transitions to calendar year in January 2013
To meet the hospice quality reporting requirements affecting the FY 2014 payment determination, hospices are submitting two measures: the Structural/QAPI measure and the NQF #0209 measure. The data collection period is Oct 1- Dec 31, 2012. Data submission can begin on January 1, 2013. The structural measure must be submitted by January 31, 2013 and the NQF #0209 by April 1, 2013.
The Final Rule CMS-1355-F published in the Federal Register Vol. 76, No. 150/ Thursday August 4, 2011 finalized that after the first hospice quality reporting cycle, all subsequent hospice quality reporting cycles would be based on a calendar year. Therefore, the data collection period for the FY 2015 payment determination and beyond is a full 12 months. For the FY 2015 payment determination, hospices will collect data from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.
The start of data collection for the FY 2015 payment determination will occur at the same time that data submission may begin for the FY 2014 payment determination. This means that in January 2013 hospices will be doing two things: submitting data collected for the FY2014 payment determination AND collecting data for FY2015 payment determination. Hospices will continue to collect data for both the Structural/QAPI measure and the NQF #0209 measure.
11/2/2012
Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission WebEx will be available soon
As previously announced on a Home Health, Hospice and DME Open Door Forum, the WebEx training on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission will be available the week of November 12, 2012 on the QTSO website, https://www.qtso.com.
No registration is required to view the WebEx; Hospice providers can view the recorded WebEx at their convenience and as many times as needed until April 2013. Once the WebEx is available the week of November 12, 2012, Hospices can access the WebEx via: https://www.qtso.com/hospicetrain.html
The Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission WebEx demonstrates how to:
- Access the Hospice Quality Reporting Program Data Entry and Submission link
- Register your Hospice Provider and establish a User Account
- Navigate the Structural Measure data entry, submission and attestation
- Navigate the NQF #0209 Pain Measure data entry, submission and attestation
In addition, the recorded WebEx covers:
- Requirements for current and future reporting
- Data Collection Help Desk Support
- Technical Help Desk Support
For the Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements affecting the FY 2014 payment determination, hospices will submit two measures: The Structural/QAPI measure and the NQF #0209 measure. The data collection period for both measures is Oct 1-Dec 31, 2012. The structural measure must be submitted by January 31, 2013 and the NQF #0209 by April 1, 2013.
9/26/2012
An updated version of the “User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection” is now available for download at the bottom of this webpage under “Downloads”. The .zip file below contains the most recent version of the User Guide for Data Collection (Version 1.1) along with a change table denoting changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1.
There is only one change from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1 – the addition of the word “not” on page 31 of the manual.
- Providers who downloaded the User Guide for Data Collection prior to 9/26/2012 may either:
- Reprint Version 1.1 of the User Guide
- Download the change table to make necessary edits to hard copies of V1.0 of the manual
- Providers who have not yet downloaded the User Guide for Data Collection should download Version 1.1.
8/15/2012
User Guides
User Guides for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (data collection October 1 – December 31, 2012 and data submission January 1 - April 1, 2013) are now available.
There will be two User Guides available for provider use. We encourage providers to prepare for data collection and submission by downloading and reading the available Guides now:
1. User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection -- is available in the Downloads section at the bottom of this webpage. This User Guide will instruct hospice providers on data collection processes for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP). Data Collection activities for the first year of the HQRP will take place October 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012.
2. Technical User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Entry and Submission -- is available in the Downloads section of the “Data Submission” portion of this webpage. This User Guide will instruct hospice providers on data submission processes and provide details about the data entry website for the HQRP. Data Submission activities for the first year of the HQRP will take place January 1 – April 1, 2013.
• Please note: the data entry site is not yet available for provider use; the site is scheduled to go live January 1, 2013.
7/6/2012
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Home Health went on display in the Federal Register on July 6. This NPRM, Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update for Calendar Year 2013, Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements, and Survey and Enforcement Requirements for Home Health Agencies (CMS-1358-P), contains a section pertaining to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP), including details about quality reporting requirements.
The proposed rule can be viewed at the OFR web link: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-16836_PI.pdf.
Please be mindful this link will change once the proposed rule is published on July 13, 2012 in the Federal Register. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until Sep. 04, 2012.
6/22/2012
Video files and Q&A from the CMS Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection Training webinars conducted in April are now available. There are two zip files located under Related Links below. One zip file contains four versions of the structural measure training videos and the other zip file contains four versions of the NQF #0209 measure training videos. There are four versions of each section of the training so hospices may choose to view either captioned or uncaptioned versions using either MP4 or Windows Media Video. The Q&A are located under Downloads below.
6/11/2012
CMS is committed to developing a Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) that utilizes standardized methods to collect data needed to calculate quality measures. To achieve this goal, CMS has been working on the initial development and testing of a patient-level item set. This patient level item set could be used by all hospices in the future to collect and submit standardized data items about each patient admitted to hospice. This data could then be used for calculating quality measures.
To test the feasibility of such an approach, CMS and its contractor, RTI International, are currently pilot testing an initial item set with 9 hospices around the country. The pilot is intended to run from June 2012- September 2012. Information from the pilot will be used to inform the future direction of the HQRP.
Many of the items currently in testing are already standardized and included in assessments utilized by other Medicare providers. Other items have been developed specifically for the hospice care settings, and obtain information needed to calculate some of the hospice quality measures that were endorsed by NQF in February 2012.
6/8/2012
CMS has published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed data collection for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, and is requesting comments. This notice pertains to the Hospice Data Submission Form to be used to submit required quality measures starting 1/1/2013. The full notice can be found at:
Hospices can view the proposed data submission form and the entire Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) package including supporting documents by visiting the CMS website and selecting CMS-10390 under Downloads at:
5/8/2012
RTI, our CMS contractor for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program, has completed analysis of the quality data submitted by over 900 hospices during the voluntary data submission period. Hospices submitted answers to the structural measure question: Does your hospice have a QAPI program that includes three or more quality indicators related to patient care? and then listed of all their patient care related indicators. The data was collected between 10/1/2011 and 12/31/2011 and was voluntarily submitted to CMS by 1/31/2012. The Executive Summary of that analysis can be found under Downloads below.
4/4/2012
CMS is hosting a training webinar addressing the Hospice Quality Reporting Program. This webinar includes training for both of the quality measures required for the first year of the Hospice Quality Reporting Program: the structural/QAPI measure and the NQF #0209 pain measure. The webinar will include a PowerPoint presentation and a question & answer (Q&A) period for each topic. CMS staff and presenters will answer as many questions submitted during the webinar as possible during the time available and will post questions and answers afterward. CMS encourages all organization and facility staff affected by these measures to attend.
The webinar will be conducted twice: April 11, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:30 EST and April 19, 2012 from 3:00 – 4:30 EST.
Attendees may register in advance for each webinar. Select the applicable link below to register for a webinar session. Attendance is not restricted to registered participants. Anyone interested may attend either or both webinars. Attendees who do register will be sent webinar information and updates directly.
The webinar is being hosted by KRM Information Services. KRM will be providing instructions and technical support to all registered attendees.
To register for the April 11 session, use the following link and enter the required information:
http://online.krm.com/iebms/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=10&ct=00607057&eventid=19055
To register for the April 19 session, use the following link and enter the required information:
http://online.krm.com/iebms/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=10&ct=00607057&eventid=19057
3/16/12
Hospice Training Webinars
CMS will be hosting two training webinars to help hospices prepare for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements, including data collection October through December 2012 and data submission in 2013.
The webinars will contain identical content and will be conducted on:
- April 11, 2012 from 1-2:30 pm EST, and
- April 19, 2012 from 3-4:30 pm EST
The webinars will be recorded and will be made available along with associated slides on www.cms.gov after the trainings.
The webinars will cover the:
- Structural/QAPI measure, and
- NQF #0209 Pain Measure
These measures are required for data collection in 2012, data submission in 2013 and will impact hospice’s annual payment update for FY 2014.
Directions on how to register for the webinar will be posted on this page by the end of March.
3/5/2012
- Congratulations and thank you to the 900+ hospices that voluntarily reported response to the structural measure and submitted 6,721 QAPI indicators.
- In the August 4 2011 Hospice Final Rule (CMS-1355-F), we were undecided whether to include the FEHC survey quality measure in the 2012 quality data collection cycle. We have decided NOT to include the FEHC measure in this first cycle of required reporting.
- The first cycle of required quality reporting (data collection period from October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012; reporting deadlines in 2013; impact on FY2014 payment update) will consist of only two measures:
- the structural measure including a list of QAPI indicators and
- the NQF # 0209 pain measure.
- the structural measure including a list of QAPI indicators and
- Since these data submission requirements are different than the single measure collected during the voluntary period, the data submission format must change. Therefore, the new data submission requirements must be presented for OMB approval via a new Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) package. Details of data submission requirements will be included in this PRA process, which includes a comment period.
Watch the Data Submission Section of this web page for updates related to the PRA contents and comment period. - CMS will be providing webinar training on data collection for the #0209 pain measure. The webinars will most likely be presented in April and details will be provided on this site. Check back frequently for updates.
2/1/2012
The Hospice Quality Reporting Voluntary Data Submission period is now closed. Hospices had until 11:59:59 pm EST on 1.31.2012 to complete submissions related to the structural measure for the voluntary period. We thank the hospices that completed the data submission process; over 900 hospices submitted information.
As stated in the final rule published August 4, 2011 (CMS-1355-F Final Rule), hospices are required to submit data to CMS beginning in January 2013. Failure to report by the data submission deadlines in 2013 will result in a two percentage point reduction to the market basket percentage increase for FY2014. Hospices will be collecting data for two measures in the 4th quarter of 2012 (October 1, 2012-December 31, 2012). The measures are:
- The structural measure/QAPI measure: this measure is the same as the measure collected during the voluntary reporting period.
- The NQF 0209/Pain measure: data for this measure will be collected by hospices at the patient level, but reported to CMS as aggregate data. There is no CMS requirement for patient-level reporting at this time.
Hospices will submit the structural measure by January 31, 2013 and the NQF 0209 by April 1, 2013.
To help hospices prepare, CMS will be providing webinar trainings at no charge in April 2012. Exact dates will be announced as soon as possible on this website and on Open Door Forums. In addition, CMS has prepared a brief information sheet which you can access under Downloads below. This information sheet provides additional details and links to information about the NQF 0209 measure to assist hospices in preparing for the required reporting.
Downloads
- User Guide for Hospice Quality Reporting Data Collection Version 1.2 [PDF, 617KB]
- Hospice QRP Q&A November 2012 [PDF, 226KB]
- Track Changes from Version 1.0 to Version 1.1 [PDF, 53KB]
- Executive Summary: Hospice QRP Voluntary Reporting Period [PDF, 519KB]
- Hospice Quality Reporting Fact Sheet [ZIP, 11KB]
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