CMS Hosts Town Hall Meeting on Physician Compare

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss the future of the Physician Compare website on Mon., Feb. 24th from 1-5 p.m.  The registration deadline for either in-person (CMS offices in Baltimore) or teleconference participation is Mon., Feb. 17th.   

As mandated by the Affordable Care Act, CMS maintains this database of public information that includes information on quality and patient experience.  With the first phase of the website now complete, CMS is continuing to make refinements through its rule making process.  CMS intends to post the first set of measure data in early 2014, reflecting data collected in program year 2012.  These data will include Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) measures for group practices and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) collected via the web interface. 

CMS is specifically seeking input in the following areas:

• What types of measures could be most useful to consumers?
• What measures would most accurately identify quality care?
• What measures would most accurately/completely represent the various Medicare specialties?
• What non-CMS measures should potentially be considered for Physician Compare and what are the logistical means of obtaining these measure data?
• Is it appropriate to reduce the length of the measure preview period from 30 days to two weeks?
• Is there additional Board Certification information to consider including on Physician Compare?
• What other types of quality improvement programs or quality initiatives to consider publishing participation information for?
• Are there additional medical qualifications to consider publishing on Physician Compare?
• Is there additional health care professional or group practice information to include on Physician Compare, such as office hours or website addresses, etc.?

To register, send an email to PhysicianCompare@Westat.com and use the subject line “Physician Compare Town Hall Registration.” Include your name, address, telephone number, email address and fax number.  You also need to indicate if you wish to participate in person or via telephone. You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your arrival at the CMS complex or for accessing the meeting via telephone.

For more details, please click here.

Contact: Patrick Cucinelli, pcucinelli@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8827