Home Health Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings TEP Summary Available

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a summary of the Home Health Quality of Patient Care (QoPC) Star Ratings Technical Expert Panel (TEP) and it is now available on the Home Health Star Ratings webpage. Abt Associates convened the TEP to review the first year of data on the performance of these ratings; discuss and make recommendations for revising the Home Health QoPC; and make recommendations for additional analysis to support ongoing maintenance and improvement of the ratings. This includes changes to the way ratings are calculated as well as the data sources included in the rating methodology. A prime example with a data source would be including the flu vaccine measure in the QoPC star rating methodology. The TEP cited cultural elements and varying state regulations as barriers for home health providers to provide the flu vaccine. To include it in the QoPC is questionable.

The TEP also raised a concern that the current methodology may not be adequately accounting for the diversity of home health patients, including those for whom improvement is not the goal, those who are transitioning to palliative care, and those with chronic disabilities. They also addressed the value of the star ratings for consumer choice. Patients and their families may not understand the rating, and that a three-star rating indicates care in line with the majority of providers.

For the complete TEP summary on the click here.

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871