CMS Developing Cross-Functional Status Quality Measures

As part of the quality measure development work, RTI convened a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) in September 2013. The TEP released a summary of their recommendations on March 28.

The purpose of the TEP meeting was to gain input on the development of functional status quality measures using functional status items included on the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) Item Set and a few items from section G and section O of the MDS 3.0. 

The TEP consisted of rehabilitation clinicians, researchers and administrators with expertise in functional assessment, quality improvement and quality measure development across IRF, SNF and LTCH settings. TEP members provided input to guide the development of the quality measures, including feedback on the individual CARE and MDS functional status items, the target population inclusion and exclusion criteria and patient demographic and clinical factors that could affect function outcomes (risk adjustors).

Four measures have been proposed for the SNF setting:

1.  Change in Self-care Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients

2.  Change in Mobility Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients

3.  Discharge Self-care Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients

4.  Discharge Mobility Score for Medical Rehabilitation Patients

A summary of the TEP is posted in the “Downloads” section on the CMS website. This report summarizes the feedback and recommendations provided by the TEP regarding the proposed functional status measures.

Contact: Kathy Pellatt, kpellatt@leadingageny.org; 518-867-8848