NQF Consensus Standards Maintenance and Endorsement Cycle Process
Overview
Healthcare performance measures and similar consensus standards are useful for improving quality only as long as the standards are maintained to reflect current knowledge and state-of-the-art, high-quality care.
Over the years, NQF has conducted maintenance on its endorsed standards on an ad hoc basis, through topic-specific Consensus Standards Maintenance Committees, and through existing projects. NQF is proposing a new maintenance process to standardize the schedule for maintaining the endorsement of consensus standards to ensure the currency of the portfolio. The currency of the NQF portfolio refers to 1) the appropriateness (i.e., is evidence-based) of a given measure, 2) the scientific and clinical appropriateness of a measure’s specifications, 3) that the specifications are harmonized, and 4) whether the endorsed measure represents the “best in class” for that particular topic.
The NQF Consensus Standards Maintenance Process encompasses regular maintenance of NQF-endorsed standards as well as ad hoc reviews judged necessary by NQF management. It is anticipated that, over time, this process will evolve into a general endorsement cycle.
Request for Public and Member Comments
Understanding that this proposed process will have a notable impact on many consensus development projects, NQF requested comments from members and the public regarding these process changes.The comment period closed on April 21, 2010.
PUBLIC AND MEMBER COMMENT
MARCH 24, 2010 9:00 AM - APRIL 21, 2010 6:00 PM
Members and the public were able to comment on the new proposed NQF process for Measure Maintenance.
Process for Measure Maintenance (PDF)
Schedule for Measure Review, 2010-2013 (PDF)
View comments received
PUBLIC COMMENTING
MARCH 24, 2010 9:00 AM - APRIL 14, 2010 6:00 PM
The public comment period closed on April 14, 2010.
MEMBER COMMENTING
MARCH 24, 2010 9:00 AM - APRIL 21, 2010 6:00 PM
The member comment period closed on April 21, 2010.
BOARD REVIEW AND APPROVAL
MAY 5, 2010
The NQF Board will review the proposed process for Measure Maintenance and comments received.
