Current Activity: The Advisory Committee completed their report in May 2010.
The Opportunity
There are 20 medical conditions identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that impose heavy health burdens on patients and account for over 95% of Medicare's costs. To achieve the best healthcare results for both patients and taxpayers, the Federal government must be able to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of care provided for these conditions. A systematic review of the conditions is needed to understand where quality improvement efforts are likely to yield the greatest benefits. Areas to target for improvement should be supported by existing performance measures or viable future measure development.
About the Project
This project began in July 2009.
NQF is overseeing systematic research into multiple dimensions for each high-impact condition and an environmental scan of currently available performance measures, those in development, and measure developer organizations. An advisory committee will be formed to guide review of this work and receive input from stakeholders and the public.
The 20 high-impact conditions are, in alphabetical order:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
- Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders
- Atrial fibrillation
- Breast cancer
- Cataract
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Colorectal cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes
| - Endometrial cancer
- Glaucoma
- Hip/pelvic fracture
- Ischemic heart disease
- Lung cancer
- Major depression
- Osteoporosis
- Prostate cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)
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Dimensions of analysis will include, at minimum: cost, prevalence, measure gaps; costs of measure development; data collection and infrastructure needs; the potential for improving quality, efficiency, and patient-centeredness; the potential for reducing overuse and waste; variability in provider performance and care delivery; and disparities.
Objectives
This effort will lead to a prioritization of the conditions across all dimensions. This prioritization will guide NQF's ongoing endorsement and measure maintenance activities as well as its education and outreach efforts to measure developers and the healthcare industry.
Process
This project does not follow NQF's formal Consensus Development Process; no products will be endorsed. An advisory committee will be formed with broad stakeholder representation and expertise in both performance measurement and the conditions under research. This committee will ensure that NQF receives relevant industry and public input and that the review and resulting recommendations are developed in alignment with NQF's role as a national voluntary consensus standards-setting organization.
Funding
This project is funded under NQF's contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, Consensus-based Entities Regarding Healthcare Performance Measurement.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Wendy Vernon at 202-783-1300 or via e-mail at priorities@qualityforum.org.
