CMS Announces Technical Expert Panel for Home Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting applications for a technical expert panel (TEP) to develop functional outcome quality measures for the home health setting.

The TEP nomination period closes on Jan. 17, 2020.

Project Overview:

CMS has contracted with Abt Associates to develop functional outcome quality measures for the home health setting. This measure development work is completed under the contracts named Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) Quality Measure Development and Maintenance Project (HHSM -500-2013-13001I, Task Order HHSM-500T0002) and Home Health and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Quality Measures and Assessment Instruments Development, Modification and Maintenance, & Quality Reporting Program Continued Contract (#75FCMC18D0014, Task Order # 75FCMC19F0001). As part of its measure development process, CMS asks contractors to convene groups of stakeholders and experts who contribute direction and thoughtful input to the measure contractor during measure development and maintenance.

Project Objectives:

• Outline Section GG data from 2019; address limitations of data for use in measure development modeling
• To obtain input on the approach for specifying the following measures for the home health setting:
  • The Application of Change in Self-Care Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients (NQF 2633): Estimate of the risk-adjusted mean change in self-care score between admission and discharge among home health patients
  • The Application of Change in Mobility Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients (NQF 2634): Estimate of the risk-adjusted mean change in mobility score between admission and discharge among home health patients
  • The Application of Discharge Self-Care Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients (NQF 2635): Estimate of the percentage of home health episodes who meet or exceed an expected discharge self-care score.
  • The Application of Discharge Mobility Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients (NQF 2636): Estimate of the percentage of home health episodes who meet or exceed an expected discharge mobility score.
    • To specify the target population, including the inclusion and exclusion criteria
    • To identify the risk adjustment variables and the approach for risk adjustment
    • Determine follow-up analyses based on TEP input

Applications for the TEP and additional information on the project are located here. Scroll to the download section of the web page.