Performance Measures Development

Society Addresses Need for Performance Measures of Heart Rhythm Care (02/01/2012) — In response to the Measure Applications Partnership’s (MAP) request for input on its pre-rulemaking report, the Society submitted comments addressing the need for incorporation of heart rhythm care measures in federal quality programs. Learn more »

Results of Comment Period and Focus Groups (9/16/2011) — HRS conducted a public review and comment period, as well as two in-person focus groups at the Annual Meeting, to gather feedback on HRS-3.2 Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Complications Rate and HRS-4.2 In-Person Evaluation Following Implantation of a Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device (CIED). All public comments were compiled and analyzed; each comment is accompanied by proposed responses and actions. Additionally, comments received from the focus groups are summarized for review. Learn more »

Society Receives Independent Measure Developer Status (8/16/2011) — On August 16, the American Medical Association-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement ® (AMA PCPI) Executive Committee approved the Society’s request to develop performance measures for heart rhythm care under the AMA PCPI’s Independent Measure Development Process. Learn more »

Participate in the Heart Rhythm Society’s Performance Measure Initiative Comment Period (4/27/2011) — To prepare the field of electrophysiology for the transition to value-based purchasing, the Heart Rhythm Society is leading the development of appropriate and available performance measures to assess heart rhythm care. The Society is currently seeking member and public feedback on the technical aspects of two proposed physician-level performance measures, ICD Complications Rate and In-person CIED Follow-up. All comments should be submitted using our online submission process no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, May 27, 2011. Learn more and submit comments »

Performance Measure Initiative Focus Group Invitation (4/12/2011) — The Society is seeking practicing electrophysiologists to attend one of the two focus groups and provide feedback on the technical aspects of two proposed physician-level performance measures, ICD Complications Rate and In-person Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) follow-up.The focus group will be held at Heart Rhythm 2011, May 4 - 7 in San Francisco. Learn more »

Society Comments on Upcoming Physician Compare Website (12/1/2010) — On November 29 the Heart Rhythm Society joined other members of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) commenting on the proposed Physician Compare Website, which is required to be available on January 1, 2013 according to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The Society's comments included a number of recommended improvements and clarifications to the data collected and reported on the site. Learn more »

CMS Seeks Feedback on Physician Compare Website (11/03/201) — On October 27, CMS held a public Town Hall meeting to discuss and solicit input on the design and format of a "Physician Compare" website, which will post information on physicians who participate in Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting System (formerly known as the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative). Federal legislation mandates that such a website be implemented by January 2011. CMS will continue to accept written submissions until November 30, and the Society encourages all stakeholders to provide their input. Learn more »

National Health Care Quality Strategy and Plan Comments (10/20/2010) — The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services requested public comments on the development of the National Health Care Quality Strategy and Plan, including the identification of priorities to improve the delivery of health care services, patient health outcomes and population health. The Heart Rhythm Society offered comments online and through a letter sent by the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, a coalition of medical societies. Learn more »

Society Comments on the Hospital OPPS Proposed Rule for 2011 (09/08/2010) — The Heart Rhythm Society has submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the 2011 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule. The comments focused on two aspects of interest to Society members: composite APC's for cardiac resynchronization therapy services and the ) Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program. Learn more »

2011 IPPS Proposed Rule: Society Supports ICD Complication Measure (06/18/2010) — This week the Heart Rhythm Society provided written comments to CMS on the proposed rule "Medicare Program; Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Proposed Fiscal Year 2011," published in the Federal Register on May 4. In the comments, the Society supported the inclusion of the ICD complication measures in CMS' Reporting Hospital Quality Data for Annual Payment Update. Learn more »

Society's Comments on NQF Patient Outcomes Project-Phase I & II (06/07/2010) — In its comments on the National Quality Forum (NQF) Patient Outcomes Project Phase I & II, the Society strongly supported the measure "Hospital Risk-Standardized Complication Rate Following Implantation of an ICD." View the letter (PDF, 128K)

Public Comments Sought for Heart Failure Measures (08/26/2009) — As part of its maintenance of evidence-based clinical performance measures and measurement resources for physicians, the AMA-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI) has reviewed and updated its heart failure performance measures. The public comment period for the PCPI draft Heart Failure measurement set will close on September 20. Learn more »

ICD Complications Measure- The Society's comments (08/25/2009) — The Heart Rhythm Society submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the ICD Complications measures. View the letter (PDF, 90K)

ICD Complications Measure — Public Comment Period Open Until August 25 (08/12/2009) —The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is developing an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Complications Measure, based on ICD Registry data, which is designed for potential use in public reporting of hospital quality. CMS is seeking public comments on the measure, which will provide hospital-specific, risk-standardized rates of procedural complications and mortality following the implantation of an ICD in Medicare Fee for Service patients at least 65 years of age. Learn more »