DOH Posts 2017 NH Quality Pool Methodology
The Department of Health (DOH) has released the methodology for the 2017 Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI), which reflects one minor change from the 2016 version – it incorporates a revision to the measurement period for one of the Quality Measures (QMs), the Percent of Long-Stay Residents Who Received the Influenza Vaccine.
DOH’s Dear Administrator Letter and 2017 methodology document details the new methodology, which includes the one change being made. Specifically, the measurement period for the Percent of Long-Stay Residents Who Received the Influenza Vaccine QM is revised from a calendar year to a measurement period of Oct. 1st of the prior year to June 30th of the target year. For the 2017 NHQI, the measurement period for this QM will therefore be Oct. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
Facilities are reminded that:
- Employee influenza vaccination data must be submitted to the DOH Bureau of Immunization for the 2016-17 influenza season by May 1, 2017 to be eligible for 5 NHQI points under compliance and 5 additional QM points.
- The 2016 cost report must be completed, filed, and certified by the due date established by DOH to be eligible for 5 NHQI points under compliance and 10 additional points under the quality measures. While DOH officials have not finalized this due date yet, they have indicated that it will be no earlier than July 1, 2017 for calendar year filers. Each member facility should verify well before the due date that any individual(s) who would be responsible for certifying the cost report have active Health Commerce System (HCS) accounts.
- Concerns remain about the protracted delays in making the NHQI payment adjustments, which have yet to be made for 2013-16. DOH has indicated that unresolved litigation challenging implementation of the NHQI has delayed the payments, which the federal government has already approved for 2013-15.
Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866