CMS Measures Management System

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a standardized approach for developing and maintaining the quality measures used in its various quality initiatives and programs. Known as the Measures Management System, this system is composed of a set of business processes and decision criteria that CMS funded measure developers (or contractors) follow when developing, implementing and maintaining quality measures. The major goal of the Measures Management System is to provide sufficient information to the measure developers to help them produce high caliber quality measures that are appropriate for accountability purposes. The Measures Management System was developed to help CMS manage an ever increasing demand for quality measures to use in its various public reporting and quality programs as well as in value-based purchasing initiatives.

CMS Measures Management System Blueprint ("Blueprint") v9.1, December 2012

The CMS Measures Management System is documented in the Blueprint v9.1, which guides CMS-contracted measure developers on measure development and maintenance. The Blueprint, divided into two volumes, has sections representing tasks that apply to the stages in the measure life cycle. This structure allows for flexibility so measure contractors can focus on sections most relevant to the tasks in their contract.

• Volume 1, Measure Development, documents the various processes necessary to plan, develop, test, and roll out a measure.
• Volume 2, Measure Maintenance, documents the processes for monitoring and maintaining a measure over time.

Significant Changes in Version 9.1, December 2012

The Information Gathering and Technical Expert Panel sections now include information on patient/patient caregiver involvement in measure development, a requirement for CMS measure contractors.

eMeasure Specifications sections have been revised to better align with NQF’s QDM version 2.1.1.1, October 2012. The sections also include consensus decisions made by the eMeasures Issues Group, finalized after August 2012, to standardize the development of eMeasures (e.g., time interval calculation conventions).

Significant Changes in Version 9.0, August 2012

Harmonization is now a standalone section within the Blueprint due to the importance of the topic—CMS measure contractors are expected to consider harmonization as one of the core measure evaluation criteria.

Enhanced guidance has been included on the development and maintenance of eMeasure specifications. An icon was added throughout the remaining Blueprint sections denoting special considerations for eMeasures.

A new section has been added on special topics, which combines prior sections on outcomes, composite, and cost and resource use measures. The new section also includes a discussion of multiple chronic conditions.

The Measure Information Form and Measure Justification form have been simplified to align with the National Quality Forum online measure submission form. Information about NQF consensus endorsement and maintenance processes has been updated.

The complete CMS Measures Management System Blueprint v9.1 is available in the "Downloads" section below, including a separate folder containing Word versions of the measure development and maintenance forms.