The changes, outlined in the 2017 Consensus Development Process Redesign report (PDF), reflect feedback from a special event during which NQF thoroughly examined how it endorses measures, specifically to make the process more agile and reduce the cycle time for measure submission and review. More than 40 private- and public-sector stakeholders—including experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other federal agencies, NQF standing committees, and organizations that develop measures, also provided input, as did NQF members and the public.

Going forward, every standing committee will review measures twice a year, thus reducing committee downtime and allowing for more frequent opportunities for measures to be submitted and considered for endorsement. NQF also will require measure developers and stewards to notify NQF in advance of their intent to submit measures for review to gain a better sense of the standing committees’ workload and to allow staff to better prepare.

In addition, NQF will establish the Scientific Methods Panel to assist in conducting methodological reviews of submitted measures. Shifting the scientific, methodological review of measures to this panel and NQF staff will allow for greater engagement and participation by consumers, patients, and purchasers on NQF standing committees.

“The changes to NQF’s endorsement process highlight the transformation underway at NQF to make measure endorsement more efficient, foster innovation, and enable greater access to NQF expertise,” said Shantanu Agrawal, MD, NQF’s president and CEO. “These changes reflect our commitment to improving quality—for better care and better health for all Americans.”

Additional improvements proposed for NQF’s measure endorsement process include:

• Expanding the measure evaluation commenting period for the public and NQF members to 12 consecutive weeks
• Simplifying the structure and content of NQF measure evaluation reports
• Enhancing education and training for stakeholder participation and engagement
• Improving access to and exchange of measure information between the measure endorsement process and Measure Applications Partnership (MAP)
• Allowing only NQF members to signal support for measures under review

Phased implementation of some changes is already underway, beginning this summer with enhanced education and training for stakeholders. Additional changes will be implemented with direction from NQF’s governance committee and Board of Directors.

Please refer to the frequently asked questions (PDF) or contact NQF staff with any questions.