Now Available: Updated eCQM Specifications and Implementation Resources for 2023 Reporting/Performance Period
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) specifications for the 2023 reporting/performance period for: Eligible Hospitals (EH) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Hospital Hybrid, Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), and Eligible Clinician programs. CMS updates the specifications annually to align with current clinical guidelines and code systems so they remain relevant and actionable within the clinical care setting. Measures will not be eligible for 2023 reporting unless and until they are proposed and finalized through notice-and-comment rulemaking for each applicable program.
Where to Find the Updated eCQM Specifications and Implementation Resources
The updated eCQM specifications are available on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement eCQI Resource Center (eCQI RC) for EH/CAH, EH/CAH Pre-Rulemaking, Hybrid, OQR and Eligible Clinician pages under the 2023 Reporting/Performance Period. Other eCQM resources, including the Guide for Reading eCQMs, eCQM Logic and Implementation Guidance, tables of eCQMs, and technical release notes, are also available on the eCQM Resources tabs on the Eligible Clinician and Eligible Hospital pages. In addition, the Telehealth Guidance for eCQMs for Eligible Clinician 2023 Quality Reporting document is posted with the Eligible Clinician Table of eCQMs regarding the allowance of telehealth encounters for Eligible Clinician eCQMs. The eCQM Data Element Repository, a resource that provides all the data elements associated with eCQMs in CMS quality reporting programs, will be updated after the measure publication to reflect data element updates to improve clarity for eCQM implementation.
Where to Find the 2023 eCQM Value Sets, Direct Reference Codes, and Terminology
The 2023 reporting/performance period eCQM value sets are available through the National Library of Medicine’s Value Set Authority Center (VSAC). The value sets are available as a complete set, as well as value sets per eCQM, on the VSAC Downloadable Resources page. The direct reference codes specified within the eCQM HQMF files are also available in a separate file for download.
Pre-Rulemaking Measure Information
The eCQI RC includes information about CMS EH/CAH pre-rulemaking eCQMs; quality measures that are developed, but not yet finalized for reporting in a CMS program. These measures will not be eligible for CMS quality reporting until they are proposed and finalized through notice-and-comment rulemaking for each applicable program.
Hospital Hybrid Measure Information
The eCQI RC includes information about CMS Hybrid Measures; quality measures that use both claims data and clinical data from electronic health records (EHRs) for calculating the measure.
OQR Measure Information
The eCQI RC includes information about a CMS OQR eCQM; a quality measure that is developed for use in the CMS Outpatient Quality Reporting program.
For Questions Regarding eCQMs visit the eCQM Issue Tracker. Note that an ONC Project Tracking System (Jira) account is required to ask a question or comment.