Alabama, Indiana and Tennessee Recognized for Quality Reporting and Performance in 2018

Each year the top 10 performing states in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) are recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for having the highest reporting rates and most significant performance improvement on the reported measures compared to the previous reporting year. In 2018, the Qsource-supported states of Indiana (#5), Tennessee (#8) and Alabama (#9) were recognized among the top performing states.

According to a HRSA media release, the 10 top-performing states built on their previous successes by investing Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) funds into quality improvement projects and developing technical assistance resources that improve high-quality care in their communities. States also work collaboratively with every Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and their respective partners to share best practices and utilize data to drive quality improvement in their hospitals.

“The CAHs in all three Qsource-recognized states have developed strong collaborative relationships with their Flex Coordinators, Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization, hospital associations and other entities to help facilitate sharing of best practices, provide direct technical assistance and offer guidance on how to utilize data to drive quality improvement within the hospitals,” explained Erik Ervin who is the Qsource Quality Data Reporting Manager for Tennessee.

The FORHP, which advises the Department of HHS on issues impacting rural communities, created a project in 2011 to promote the high quality of care at rural hospitals with 25 beds or fewer. This MBQIP has a goal of encouraging data-driven approaches to improving the quality of care provided in CAHs through increased participation in the CMS hospital inpatient and outpatient reporting programs.

“As the US healthcare system continues to shift from volume-based to value-based care, CAHs will need to increase and improve participation in federal quality reporting programs to demonstrate the quality of care they provide and to be prepared for future changes in the reimbursement landscape,” said Ervin.

Qsource assists a wide array of healthcare providers to improve their quality and efficiency of care – including Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs), PPS-exempt Cancer Hospitals (PCHs), inpatient and outpatient departments of hospitals, physician practices, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs).

“We stand ready to help assess the clinical quality of care, care coordination, patient safety, patient experience of care, caregiver experience of care, population/community health and efficiency,” said Ervin. For general inquiries about this technical assistance, contact Don Gettinger, Qsource Quality Data Reporting Manager for Indiana.