Implementation

The value set Binding Parameter Specification (BPS) is generated by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and is a record of the value set metadata information that defines the code lists specified by current CMS eCQMs. Measure implementers and vendors use the BPS to track versions and other parameters that define the code lists for each eCQM release. Users can access the BPS metadata file for any released set of CMS eCQM value set files through the NLM's Value Set Authority Center Downloadable Resources.

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Connect is a tool that is a web-based repository service which enables the CDS community to identify evidence-based standards of care, translate and codify information into an interoperable standard, and leverage tooling to promote a collaborative model of CDS development.

Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) is a comprehensive and authoritative listing of all Health Information Technology certified by the ONC Health IT Certification program. All products listed are tested by an ONC-Authorized Testing Lab (ONC-ATL) and certified by an ONC-Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB) to meet criteria adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For additional information on how to navigate the CHPL, please refer to the CHPL Public User Guide.

CMS Measures Inventory Tool (CMIT) is a repository for information about CMS measures. CMS and its partners use the inventory to inform stakeholders, to manage its measure portfolio, and to guide measure development. The functions allow users to find measures quickly, to compile and refine sets of related measures, to identify measures across the continuum of care, and will help coordinate measurement efforts across all conditions, settings, and populations.

The Clinical Quality Language (CQL) Formatting and Usage Wiki is a collaborative workspace for the development of CQL formatting conventions and usage patterns for the representation of logic within quality measures. All users have edit rights to be able to submit edits, add comments and concerns. Items on the Wiki are a work in progress and subject to change. 

The eCQM Known Issues is a section in the Clinical Quality Language (CQL) Formatting and Usage Wiki that provides a listing of known issues relative to CQL-Based eCQM support.

The CQL-to- ELM Translator is a specification that describes a formal mechanism for translating the high-level CQL syntax into the canonical called Expression Logical Model (ELM) representation. The reference implementation is intended to be used in support of CQF implementations as a tool to enable CQL output to be uniformly and automatically translated into ELM XML or JSON documents for sharing and distribution to support implementation, integration, translation, and execution of CQL-based artifacts.

Cypress is an open source testing tool used by vendors to certify their EHRs and health information technology (IT) modules for calculating eCQMs. Cypress is an official testing tool for the ONC EHR Certification Program. Testing involves Cypress generating synthetic patient records for the subset of published eCQMs selected for certification and testing the ability of the EHR systems and health IT modules to accurately record, import, calculate, filter, and report eCQMs.

The Cypress Tech Talks are an open forum for discussing technical implementation and tool issues with the Cypress support team.

The eCQI Resource Center is a website which provides eCQI resources and connections with the community of professionals who are dedicated to electronic clinical quality improvement for better health. It provides eCQM electronic specifications along with tool and resource links. It serves as “the one-stop shop for the most current resources to support electronic clinical quality improvement.”