Request for Public Comment on Screening for Social Needs eCQM

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation – Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) to develop a re-designed measure of screening for social needs (food insecurity, housing insecurity, transportation insecurity, and utility insecurity). The re-designed measure will be an electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) evaluating hospitals on screening and following-up on social needs of patients. 

CMS is inviting stakeholders and other interested members of the public to review and comment on the measure under development beginning June 2, 2023. The public comment period will close on July 2, 2023. This period provides an opportunity for the widest array of interested parties to provide input on the Addressing Social Needs eCQM and can prompt critical suggestions not previously considered by the measure contractor. This notice serves as the call for public comment on this measure.

To participate in the public comment, please e-mail your comments to cmsaddressingsocialneeds@yale.edu. Comments on the eCQM must be received by 11:59 PM EST on July 2, 2023. If you are providing comments on behalf of an organization, please include the organization’s name and your contact information. If you are commenting as an individual, please submit identifying or contact information. Do not include personal health information in your comments. 

For more information and to access the eCQM specifications, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/MMS/PC-Currently-Accepting-Comments.html. Please note that at the end of the public comment period, all comments will be posted on the website.

If you have any questions, please contact cmsaddressingsocialneeds@yale.edu. Thank you!