CMS issues guidance on CY 2016 eCQM reporting hardship exemption requests

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued guidance to help clarify its policy regarding requests for hardship exemptions from electronic clinical quality measure reporting for calendar year 2016. Hospitals may request an exemption from the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program’s eCQM reporting requirement based on hardships preventing them from electronically reporting, such as infrastructure challenges or unforeseen circumstances such as vendor issues outside of the hospital’s control. Requests for CY 2016 will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis through April 1. Hospitals that were initially denied a request for a CY 2016 exemption may submit a new request with the most current supporting documentation, CMS said. For more information and an exemption request form, visit www.qualitynet.org, or contact the Hospital Inpatient Value, Incentives, and Quality Reporting Outreach and Education Support Team at https://cms-ip.custhelp.com or (844) 472-4477.