EH Electronic Clinical Quality Annual Update

CMS Posts 2014 Eligible Hospital eCQM Annual Update

The following is communication from the CMS Listserv.

The annual update of the 2014 electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) for eligible hospitals and corresponding specifications for electronic reporting are now available. CMS updates the specifications annually to ensure that specifications align with current clinical guidelines, code sets, and remain relevant and actionable within the clinical care setting.

The eCQM specifications are used for multiple programs, such as the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program, to align with the EHR Incentive Programs and reduce the burden on providers to report quality measures.

CMS strongly encourages the implementation and use of the updated 2014 eCQMs for eligible hospitals because they include new codes, logic corrections, and clarifications. However, CMS will accept all versions of the eCQMs for meaningful use, beginning with the December 2012 release, until the next phase of the EHR Incentive Programs.

Updated 2014 CQM Resources
To help eligible hospitals navigate the updated eCQMs, several resources are available on the eCQM Library page:

  • Table of 2014 Eligible Hospital Measure Versions
  • 2014 eCQM Specifications for Eligible Hospital Release April2014
  • 2014 eCQM Measure Logic Guidance v1.6 April2014
  • Guide to Reading Eligible Provider and Hospital eCQMs April2014

Need additional eCQM file formats or access to past versions for side by side comparisons?
Visit the Meaningful Use tab of the United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK).

Need additional information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates.