Electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Standard Tools
The use of eCQM-friendly tools provides standardization in developing eCQMs. Tool standardization facilitates implementation by minimizing burden.
The Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) is a web-based authoring tool required for developing and maintaining eCQMs for CMS programs. Use of the MAT is to ensure eCQM developers are using the established health information technology (IT) standards and clinical terminology code systems needed for eCQM implementation. Specifically, the MAT enables measure developers to author eCQMs in Health Quality Measure Format (HQMF) using the Quality Data Model (QDM) data elements, Clinical Quality Language (CQL), and other standards to meet future measure authoring requirements.
Bonnie is a web-based tool used by eCQM developers to test eCQM logic during the measure development process.
Value Set Authority Center (VSAC) provides the ability to develop value sets from the Unified Medical Language System terminologies.
Cypress is an open-source testing tool used by health IT vendors to certify their electronic health records (EHRs) and health IT modules (CEHRT) for calculating eCQMs. The Cypress application includes the Cypress Validation Utility + Calculation Check (CVU+). The CVU+ facilitates real world testing, providing health IT vendors the ability to perform QRDA validation testing using their own test patients.
The figure shows the connections among eCQM standards and the tools used to help develop and test eCQMs.

Find additional eCQI tools on the individual tools and resources tab of each standard on the main menu of the eCQI Resource Center and within the eCQI Tools & Key Resources.