ACTION: The CSAC Call for Nominations closed on March 1, 2012.
Overview
The Consensus Standards Approval Committee (CSAC) is a standing committee of the NQF Board of Directors. It is the governing body that makes endorsement decisions regarding national voluntary consensus standards and that has the most direct responsibility for overseeing the implementation of NQF's Consensus Development Process.
Charge to the CSAC
The charge to the CSAC is two-fold:
- The CSAC is responsible for review and approval of candidate consensus standards following public and member comment and voting by the NQF membership. CSAC decisions regarding consensus standards are subject to final ratification by the Board.
- The CSAC serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors and NQF management on ongoing enhancements to the Consensus Development Process and emerging issues in performance measurement.
Responsibilities Related to Endorsement
CSAC activities related to consensus standards endorsement occur within the larger context of NQF's Consensus Development Process. Specific CSAC responsibilities include:
- 1. Review and Approval of Candidate Consensus Standards
- The CSAC reviews the recommendation of a candidate consensus standard by the project Steering Committee and the results of NQF Member voting. Steering Committee and NQF Member Council leaders are consulted as needed. The CSAC then decides whether to endorse the consensus standard; it has the option to refer the standard back for further consideration.
- 2. Review of Measures Granted Time-Limited Endorsement
- The CSAC may decide that a candidate measure be endorsed for a limited period of time if it meets NQF evaluation criteria except for adequate field testing. Time-limited endorsement is usually in effect for 24 months; by the end of this period the measure steward must provide evidence and results from testing. Based on these results, the CSAC can remove the time limitation, in which case endorsement is extended to the full three years, or let the endorsement expire.
- 3. Consultation on Appeals
- The CSAC provides initial consultation and recommendations to the Board on appeals of endorsement decisions. The Board acts on appeals within seven calendar days of its notification of the CSAC's recommendation.
- 4. Measure Maintenance
- Measure stewards are required to communicate all changes to endorsed measures to NQF on an ongoing basis. Changes to the specification of a measure will result in NQF consultation with the CSAC to determine whether review is required. Reviews are also required every three years at the end of the normal endorsement period. Based on the reviews, the CSAC decides whether to maintain endorsement.
Composition
CSAC members are drawn from a diverse set of stakeholder perspectives and include individuals with expertise in measure development, implementation, and reporting. To assure a continued focus on meeting the information needs of the primary users of publicly reported performance information, individuals with the perspectives of consumers and purchasers maintain a simple majority of seats on the Committee. All CSAC members have a fiduciary responsibility to patients and the American public and serve as individuals, not representatives of a particular organization, association, or other group. CSAC members are subject to the same disclosure and conflict of interest policies that apply to Steering Committees of consensus development projects.
Appointments
CSAC members are eligible to serve a maximum of two 2-year terms. To assure continuity, terms are staggered. CSAC members in leadership positions serve for two years, the first year as vice chair and the second year as chair. The CSAC chair and vice chair are appointed by the Board of Directors and the CSAC chair serves in an ex officio, non-voting capacity on the Board. Appointments to CSAC leadership positions rotate from one year to the next between individuals drawn from the consumer and purchaser perspectives and other individuals.
Background
The Consensus Standards Approval Committee was established in December 2006 when the NQF Board of Directors approved a new governance and committee structure. The CSAC has realized its intended purpose: to enhance the breadth and depth of expertise and improve the timeliness of decisionmaking regarding NQF endorsement.
