NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2021 - 27

▌ The stars would range from one star (worst) to
five stars (best) similar to other post-acute
provider types and will be calculated based on
" top-box " scores for each of the eight CAHPS
Hospice Survey measures.
F. Proposal for Public Reporting of HIS-based
Measures with Fewer than Standard Numbers of
Quarters Due to PHE Exemption in February 2022
▌ CMS is finalizing their proposal that, in the
COVID-19 PHE, 3 quarters of HIS data would
be used for the final affected refresh, the
February 2022 public reporting refresh of Care
Compare for the Hospice setting.
▌ Using 3 quarters of data for the February 2022
refresh would allow CMS to begin displaying Q3
2020, Q4 2020, and Q1 2021 data in February
2022, rather than continuing to display
November 2020 data (Q1 2019 through Q4
2019).
▌ CMS states that updating the data in February
2022 by more than a year relative to the
November 2020 freeze data would assist
consumers by providing more relevant quality
data and allow hospices to demonstrate more
recent performance. Testing results indicate to
CMS that providers can achieve these positive
impacts while maintaining high standards for
reportability and reliability.
▌ CMS is also finalizing their proposal to publicly
report the most recently available 8 quarters of
CAHPS® data starting with the February 2022
refresh and going through the May 2023 refresh
on Care Compare.
▌ CAHPS® data cannot be publicly reported for
Q1 2020 and Q2 2020 data due to the
COVID-19 PHE.
G. Update on Transition to iQIES
▌ CMS thanked submitters for their comments,
especially the requests that CMS provide
adequate advanced notice regarding the
transition of hospice to the iQIES systems.
▌ CMS plans to communicate with the provider
community via sub-regulatory guidance about
the upcoming transition to iQIES as the timing
becomes clear. CMS' intention is to provide
sufficient time and appropriate information for
a smooth transition.
H. Proposals for calculating and publicly reporting
" claims-based measures " as part of the HQRP
▌ CMS is finalizing as proposed to publicly
report the HCI and HVLDL claims based
measures beginning no earlier than May 2022,
and to include it in the Preview Reports no
sooner than the May 2022 refresh.
▌ CMS will update the claims-based measures
used for the HQRP annually and will refresh
claims-based measure scores on Care
Compare, in preview reports, and in the
confidential CASPER QM preview reports
annually.
▌ Claims-based measure scores will be
calculated based on one or more years of data
and which publicly shares only the most
up-to-date information and best reflects
current realities.
▌ CMS also states that having only the most
recent data can also help incentivize hospices
with lower scores to make changes and have
the results of their effort be reflected in
better scores.
CMS is also finalizing their proposal to publicly report the most recently available 8 quarters of
CAHPS data starting with the February 2022 refresh...
Newsline / Fall 2021 27

NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine Fall 2021