Variation in Measure Specifications Project 2015-2016

NQF is initiating a project focused on Variation in Measure Specifications. Through this project, NQF will seek to identify how, where, and why variation is occurring across current measures; create a framework for understanding and interpreting the different types of variation across measures and the implications of this variation; and develop a common understanding around key terms, concepts, and measure components to help standardize measurement efforts and minimize unnecessary variation. Read more

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Variation in Measure Specifications Project 2015-2016

Description

The Opportunity

As the U.S. healthcare system has become increasingly focused on issues of quality, cost, and efficiency, the use of quality measurement in healthcare has also grown rapidly in both scope and importance. This has led to a proliferation of measures across a diverse range of clinical areas, settings, data sources and programs, and there is growing recognition that measures being used in various programs (e.g., at the federal, state, and community levels) are often not well-aligned with each other – different programs will frequently use very similar measures, intending to address the same fundamental quality issue, but will use slightly different or modified versions of the same measure. This leads to a number of challenges, including confusion for stakeholders and a high burden of data collection for healthcare providers, who may need to report on multiple measures that are essentially redundant but that have minor differences because of the requirements of different groups. In addition, the use of multiple similar measures creates difficulties when trying to compare performance.

Objectives

As part of this project, NQF will convene a multi-stakeholder Expert Panel to provide leadership, guidance, and input on the project tasks. NQF will follow a structured methodology to develop an organizing framework and lexicon of quality measurement concepts. NQF will also identify common sources of variation and threats to comparability of measures, while proposing mitigation strategies.

NQF Process

This project is guided by an Expert Panel that will consider and make recommendations regarding comments from healthcare stakeholders. The panel will use relevant elements of NQF’s Consensus Development Process to receive and review comments; however, the process will not involve voting or the endorsement of any product.

Funding

This project is funded under NQF’s contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, Consensus-based Entities Regarding Healthcare Performance Measurement.

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