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.