Quality improvement is a major initiative for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). With the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010, there is a focused interest in providing quality and value-based healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries. It is critical to develop criteria not only for quality improvement but also as a means for beneficiaries to compare healthcare plans to make the choice that is right for them.
Process of care measures are needed that focus on the care needs of Medicare beneficiaries, such as factors affecting continuity of care and transitions. CMS seeks also to expand its quality improvement efforts from collection of structure and process measures to outcome measures. The development and subsequent implementation of outcome measures appropriate for programs serving older and/or disabled patients is especially important for ensuring that these beneficiaries obtain high quality healthcare.
This request is for data collection to test the use of new tools available to CMS to measure care pertinent to vulnerable beneficiaries where quality of care provided by Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) should be closely monitored. The measures to be evaluated and developed upon approval of this request relate to (1) continuity of information and care from hospital discharge to the outpatient setting, (2) continuity between mental health provider and primary care provider (PCP), and (3) items that may be added to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey addressing language centered care, cultural competence, physical activity, healthy eating, and caregiver strain.
US Code:
42 USC 1395w-22
Name of Law: Benefits and Beneficiary Protections
US Code: 42 USC 1395w-22 Name of Law: Benefits and Beneficiary Protections
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.