eCQM Library - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

eCQM Library

Annual Updates

eCQM Electronic Specifications

These electronic specifications are fully developed and represent the electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) that will be proposed in 2016 for the ambulatory and inpatient hospital quality reporting programs. This page will be updated if changes are made to the final measure requirements.

Each year, CMS makes updates to the electronic specifications of the Clinical Quality Measures approved for submission in CMS programs. CMS encourages the implementation and use of the updates because they include new codes, logic corrections and clarifications. Below are Eligible Professionals (EP) and Eligible Hospitals (EH) electronic measure specifications and companion resources to support implementation.

For those attesting to eCQMs to demonstrate meaningful use for the EHR Incentive Programs:

CMS will accept all versions of the eCQMs through attestation, beginning with those finalized in the December 4, 2012 CMS-ONC Interim Final Rule.
For eReporting of eCQMs to demonstrate meaningful use or for Quality Reporting Programs:
An eligible professional, eligible hospital or Critical Access Hospital must use the most current version of the eCQMs identified for each program below.

The vocabulary value sets used by eCQMs consist of codes and terms drawn from standard vocabularies such as SNOMED CT®, RxNorm, and ICD-10-CM to represent the clinical concepts found in EHR patient data as defined by the eCQMs (e.g., patients with diabetes, clinical visit). Providers must ensure their health IT systems either capture or can map to these codes in order to report eCQMs.

To obtain the value sets for the eCQMs, you can download packages in multiple file formats from the “Downloads” page at the Value Set Authority Center (VSAC). The value sets are available as a complete set, as well as value sets per measure. You will be required to login with Unified Medical Language System® Metathesaurus License credentials, also available through the VSAC website. The Data Element Catalog, an additional resource linked on the VSAC home page, contains the complete list of updated eCQMs and value set names.

eCQMs Eligible Professionals

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2017 Performance Period (as of April 2016):

Performance period for eligible professionals is defined as the measure data capture period of the calendar year between January 1 and December 31.

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2016 Reporting Period:

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2015 Reporting Period:

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2014 Reporting Period:

December 2012 Release eCQMs (cannot be used for eReporting):

eCQMs for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2017 Reporting Period (as of April 2016):

Reporting period for eligible hospitals is defined as the measure data capture period of the calendar year between January 1 and December 31.

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2016 Reporting Period:

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2015 Reporting Period:

eCQMs for eReporting for the 2014 Reporting Period:

December 2012 Release eCQMs (cannot be used for eReporting):

QRDA RESOURCES

For eReporting for the 2017 Reporting Period:

- 2017 CMS QRDA Implementation Guide for Hospital Quality Reporting
- 2017 CMS QRDA I Schematrons and Sample Files for Hospital Quality Reporting

For eReporting for the 2016 Reporting Period:

For eReporting for the 2015 Reporting Period:

For eReporting for the 2014 Reporting Period:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For Assistance:
1. Issues and questions related to the eCQM specifications, logic, and/or QRDA reporting may be submitted through the JIRA Clinical Quality Measure Feedback System at: http://oncprojectracking.org/

2. Policy Questions related to specific reporting programs may be submitted through the programs’ help desks or information center

1. Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR)

i. https://www.qualitynet.org/

ii. (866) 288-8912

iii. Email: qnetsupport@hcqis.org

2. EHR Incentive Program at: (888) 734-6433