Infection measure data issue prompts additional FY 2017 HAC review and corrections period and other updates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced an error in calculating Clostridium difficile infection performance during the first two quarters of 2014.

This error affects hospital performance in the fiscal year 2017 Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program, baseline performance in the FY 2018 hospital value-based purchasing program, and measure data reported on Hospital Compare in 2015.

As a result, CMS is conducting a second review and corrections period for the FY 2017 HAC program from today through Sept. 30 to allow hospitals to review their updated C Difficile performance.

CMS also has updated the baseline period performance standard for the FY 2018 VBP program, and intends to update the archived databases of Hospital Compare to reflect corrected performance data.

For more information, see CMS’s QualityNet website.