Now Available: Updated QDM v5.5 Publication for 2021 Reporting/Performance Period

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a guidance update for the Quality Data Model (QDM) version 5.5. The referenced document clarifies some of the definitions and fixes minor errata noted in the document initially published to the eCQI Resource Center in August 2019 and contains these changes:

• Guidance about interpreting QDM datatype Device, Applied
• General guidance about applying negation rationale to reduce clinical burden
• Recommendations for measure developers to avoid use of Encounter, Performed negation rationale attribute
• Clarification of Medication, Active relevant period attribute stopTime definition
• Clarification of Medication, Order and Medication, Dispensed attribute relevant period definition
• Guidance to avoid use of QDM datatype Participation attribute recorder
• Guidance about seeking Procedure, Performed completion Vs. successful outcome
• Clarification for usage of Procedure, Performed attribute priority
• Clarification of dosage attribute definition
• Clarification of result dateTime attribute definition

This guidance update does not include any structural changes in the QDM version 5.5. The QDM will continue to evolve based on stakeholder input and feedback from the QDM User Group.

In May 2020, the electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) produced using QDM v5.5 for the 2021 reporting/performance period are expected to be published on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement (eCQI) Resource Center.

Additional Information

To join the QDM User Group, visit the eCQI Resource Center Events page.

If you have questions about QDM, contact the ESAC, Inc. QDM team at the ONC Project Tracking System (Jira) QDM project.

Current and past versions of the QDM, QDM User Group meeting information, and Clinical Quality Language (CQL) resources are found on the eCQI Resource Center.