Cost and Efficiency

NQF #0496 calculates the median time from emergency department arrival to time of departure from the emergency room for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). The measure is calculated using chart-abstracted data, on a rolling quarterly basis, and is publically reported in aggregate for one calendar year. The measure has been publically reported since 2013 as part of the ED Throughput measure set of the CMS’ Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (HOQR) Program.

The MSPB Hospital measure evaluates hospitals’ risk-adjusted episode costs relative to the risk-adjusted episode costs of the national median hospital. Specifically, the MSPB Hospital measure assesses the cost to Medicare for Part A and Part B services performed by hospitals and other healthcare providers during an MSPB Hospital episode, which is comprised of the periods 3-days prior to, during, and 30-days following a patient’s hospital stay. The MSPB Hospital measure is not condition specific and uses standardized prices when measuring costs.

The Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary – Post Acute Care Measure for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (MSPB-PAC IRF) was developed to address the resource use domain of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act). This resource use measure is intended to evaluate each IRF’s efficiency relative to that of the national median IRF. Specifically, the measure assesses Medicare spending by the IRF and other healthcare providers during an MSPB episode.

The Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary – Post Acute Care Measure for Long-Term Care Hospitals (MSPB-PAC LTCH) was developed to address the resource use domain of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act). This resource use measure is intended to evaluate each LTCH’s efficiency relative to that of the national median LTCH. Specifically, the measure assesses Medicare spending by the LTCH and other healthcare providers during an MSPB episode.

The Non-Emergent CABG episode-based cost measure evaluates a clinician’s risk-adjusted cost to Medicare for patients who undergo a CABG procedure during the performance period. The measure score is the clinician’s risk-adjusted cost for the episode group averaged across all episodes attributed to the clinician. This procedural measure includes costs of services that are clinically related to the attributed clinician’s role in managing care during each episode from 30 days prior to the clinical event that opens, or “triggers,” the episode through 90 days after the trigger.

This measure calculates case-mix-adjusted readmission rates, defined as the percentage of admissions followed by 1 or more readmissions within 30 days, for patients less than 18 years old. The measure covers patients discharged from general acute care hospitals, including children’s hospitals.

This measure calculates case-mix-adjusted readmission rates, defined as the percentage of admissions followed by 1 or more readmissions within 30 days, following hospitalization for lower respiratory infection (LRI) in patients less than 18 years old. The measure covers patients discharged from general acute care hospitals, including children’s hospitals.

The Routine Cataract Removal with Intraocular Lens (IOL) Implantation cost measure evaluates clinicians’ risk-adjusted cost to Medicare for beneficiaries who receive this procedure. The cost measure score is a clinician’s average risk-adjusted cost for the episode group averaged across all episodes attributed to the clinician. This procedural measure includes costs of services that are clinically related to the attributed clinician’s role in managing care during the 60 days prior to the clinical event that opens or ‘triggers’ the episode, through 90 days after the trigger.

The Screening/Surveillance Colonoscopy cost measure evaluates clinicians’ risk-adjusted cost to Medicare for beneficiaries who receive this procedure. The cost measure score is a clinician’s average risk-adjusted cost for the episode group averaged across all episodes attributed to the clinician. This procedural measure includes costs of services that are clinically related to the attributed clinician’s role in managing care from the day of the clinical event that opens or ‘triggers’ the episode, through 14 days after the trigger.

Total Cost of Care reflects a mix of complicated factors such as patient illness burden, service utilization and negotiated prices. Total Cost Index (TCI) is a measure of a primary care provider’s risk adjusted cost effectiveness at managing the population they care for. TCI includes all costs associated with treating members including professional, facility inpatient and outpatient, pharmacy, lab, radiology, ancillary and behavioral health services.