CMS: Report shows 'clear progress' on quality improvement

A new report evaluating the effects of measures used in 25 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality reporting programs from 2006 to 2013 “demonstrates that the nation has made clear progress in improving the health care delivery system to achieve the three aims of better care, smarter spending, and healthier people,” said Patrick Conway, M.D., CMS deputy administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer. According to the report, 95% of 119 publicly reported performance rates across seven quality reporting programs showed improvement during the study period. In addition, about 35% of the 119 measures were classified as high performing, meaning performance rates exceeded 90% in each of the most recent three years for which data were available. Among other findings, CMS said 7,000 to 10,000 lives were saved between 2006 and 2012 through improved performance on inpatient hospital heart failure process measures, while 4,000 to 7,000 infections were averted through improved performance on inpatient hospital surgical process measures. In addition, racial and ethnic disparities were much less pronounced, with measure rates for Hispanics, Blacks and Asians showing the most improvement, the agency said. The report is required at least once every three years by the Affordable Care Act.