AHRQ Workgroups on ICD-10-CM/PCS Conversion of Quality Indicators (QIs), 32975-32977 [2012-13306]
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32975
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2012 / Notices
OWH is requesting two years of OMB
approval to enable sampling, screening,
and survey implementation.
ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
Number
responses per
respondent
Number of
respondents
Average
burden per
response
(in hours)
Total burden
(in hours)
Type of respondent
Form name
Medical Secretary .............................
Physician ...........................................
Screener ...........................................
Survey ..............................................
1,300
600
1
1
5/60
20/60
108
200
Total ...........................................
...........................................................
........................
........................
........................
308
Keith A. Tucker,
Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction
Act Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–13396 Filed 6–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–33–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Background
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
Patient Safety Organizations: Expired
Listing for The American Cancer
Biorepository, Inc. d/b/a American
Collaborative Biorepository or ‘‘ACB’’
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of delisting.
AGENCY:
AHRQ has delisted The
American Cancer Biorepository, Inc.
d/b/a American Collaborative
Biorepository or ‘‘ACB’’ as a Patient
Safety Organization (PSO) due to its
failure to seek continued listing. The
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act)
authorizes the listing of PSOs, which are
entities or component organizations
whose mission and primary activity is
to conduct activities to improve patient
safety and the quality of health care
delivery. HHS issued the Patient Safety
and Quality Improvement Final Rule
(Patient Safety Rule) to implement the
Patient Safety Act. AHRQ administers
the provisions of the Patient Safety Act
and Patient Safety Rule relating to the
listing and operation of PSOs.
DATES: The directories for both listed
and delisted PSOs are ongoing and
reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The
delisting was effective at 12 Midnight
ET (2400) on April 21, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Both directories can be
accessed electronically at the following
HHS Web site: https://
www.pso.AHRQ.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eileen Hogan, Center for Quality
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ,
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SUMMARY:
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540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850;
Telephone (toll free): (866) 403–3697;
Telephone (local): (301) 427–1111; TTY
(toll free): (866) 438–7231; TTY (local):
(301) 427–1130; Email:
pso@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
Dated: May 22, 2012.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–13307 Filed 6–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–M
Frm 00048
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
AHRQ Workgroups on ICD–10–CM/
PCS Conversion of Quality Indicators
(QIs)
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of request for
nominations.
AGENCY:
The Patient Safety Act, Public Law
109–41, 42 U.S.C. 299b–21—b–26,
provides for the formation of PSOs,
which collect, aggregate, and analyze
confidential information regarding the
quality and safety of health care
delivery. The Patient Safety Rule, 42
CFR part 3, authorizes AHRQ, on behalf
of the Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO
an entity that attests that it meets the
statutory and regulatory requirements
for listing. A PSO can be ‘‘delisted’’ by
the Secretary if it is found to no longer
meet the requirements of the Patient
Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule.
Section 3.108(d) of the Patient Safety
Rule requires AHRQ to provide public
notice when it removes an organization
from the list of federally approved
PSOs. Accordingly, The American
Cancer Biorepository, Inc. d/b/a
American Collaborative Biorepository or
‘‘ACB’’, PSO number P0036, was
delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET
(2400) on April 21, 2012.
More information on PSOs can be
obtained through AHRQ’s PSO Web site
at https://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/
index.html.
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking
nominations for members of
approximately 10 multidisciplinary
workgroups, to be convened by AHRQ’s
contractor, on ICD–10–CM/PCS
conversion of the AHRQ Quality
Indicators (QIs).
DATES: Please submit nominations on or
before June 29, 2012. Self-nominations
are welcome. Third-party nominations
must indicate that the individual has
been contacted and is willing to serve
on the workgroup. Selected candidates
will be notified no later than July 13,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be sent in
the form of a letter or email, preferably
as an electronic file with an email
attachment and should specifically
address the submission criteria as noted
below. Electronic submissions are
strongly encouraged. Responses should
be submitted to: ATTN: John Bott,
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, Center for Delivery,
Organization and Markets, 540 Gaither
Road, Room 5119, Rockville, MD 20850,
Email: john.bott@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Bott, Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality, Center for Delivery,
Organization and Markets, 540 Gaither
Road, Room 5119, Rockville, MD 20850,
Email: john.bott@AHRQ.hhs.gov; Phone:
(301) 427–1317; Fax: (301) 427–1430.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These
workgroups are being formed as part of
a structured approach for converting the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM
04JNN1
32976
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2012 / Notices
ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
existing QI specifications from ICD–9–
CM to ICD–10–CM/PCS, incorporating
coding expertise, clinical expertise, and
health services research/quality
measurement expertise. The workgroups
will evaluate the results of automated
‘‘code mapping’’ from ICD–9–CM to
ICD–10–CM/PCS, providing input and
advice regarding similarities and
differences between ICD–9–CM and
ICD–10–CM/PCS codes that are mapped
to each other. This workgroup process
will lead to recommendations regarding
how the existing AHRQ QIs should be
re-specified using ICD–10–CM/PCS
codes, retaining the original clinical
intent of each indicator while taking
advantage of the greater specificity of
ICD–10–CM/PCS to improve the
indicator’s validity. Workgroup
participation will be uncompensated.
For additional information about the
AHRQ QIs, please visit the AHRQ Web
site at https://
www.QUALITYindicators.AHRQ.gov.
Specifically, each Workgroup on ICD–
10–CM/PCS Conversion of Quality
Indicators will consist of:
• At least three individuals with
relevant clinical expertise (e.g.,
cardiovascular disease, neurologic
disease, orthopedic and musculoskeletal
disease, obstetrics and gynecologic
disease, surgery, critical care and
pulmonary disease, diabetes and
endocrine disease, infectious disease,
neonatology and pediatric disease,
miscellaneous) and at least two
individuals with relevant coding
expertise.
• One or more individuals with field
experience using AHRQ QI measures for
assessing hospital performance.
• One or more individuals with
expertise in validating ICD–9–CM or
ICD–10–CM/PCS codes using chart
abstraction (to assess criterion validity),
or otherwise assessing their accuracy
and usefulness in identifying
individuals with specific adverse
outcomes.
• One or more individuals with
experience using data from the AHRQ
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
or similar data for the purpose of
calculating AHRQ QIs.
Submission Criteria
To be considered for membership on
a QI ICD–10–CM/PCS Conversion
Workgroup, please send the following
information for each nominee:
1. A brief nomination letter
highlighting experience and knowledge
relevant to the development,
refinement, or testing of quality
measures based on ICD9–CM and/or
ICD–10–CM/PCS coded data, and
demonstrating familiarity with the
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16:10 Jun 01, 2012
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AHRQ QIs and health care
administrative data. (See selection
criteria below.) The nominee’s clinical
or coding profession and specialty, and
the spectrum of his or her clinical or
coding expertise, should be described.
Please include full contact information
of nominee: name, title, organization,
mailing address, telephone and fax
numbers, and email address.
2. Curriculum vita (with citations to
any pertinent publications related to
quality measure specification, ICD–9–
CM, or ICD–10–CM/PCS).
3. Description of any financial
interest, recent conduct, or current or
planned commercial, non-commercial,
institutional, intellectual, public
service, or other activities pertinent to
the potential scope of the workgroups,
which could be perceived as influencing
the workgroup’s process or
recommendations. The objective is not
to prevent nominees with potential
conflicts of interest from serving on the
panels, but to obtain such information
so as to best inform the selection of
workgroup members, and to help
minimize such conflicts.
Nominee Selection Criteria
Nominees should have technical
expertise in health care quality measure
development, refinement, or
application, and familiarity with the
ICD–9–CM and ICD–10–CM/PCS code
sets (especially insofar as they are used
to specify quality measures).
More specifically, each candidate will
be evaluated using the following
criteria:
• Knowledge of health care quality
measurement using administrative data
in specific, relevant clinical domains
(e.g., cardiovascular disease, neurologic
disease, orthopedic and musculoskeletal
disease, obstetrics and gynecologic
disease, surgery, critical care and
pulmonary disease, diabetes and
endocrine disease, infectious disease,
neonatology and pediatric disease,
miscellaneous);
• Peer-reviewed publications relevant
to developing, refining, testing, or
applying health care quality measures
based on ICD-coded administrative data;
• Other experience developing,
refining, testing, or applying health care
quality measures based on ICD-coded
administrative data;
• Expertise in ICD–9–CM and/or ICD–
10–CM/PCS coding;
• Expertise in hospital quality
improvement, patient safety, and/or
clinical documentation improvement;
• Familiarity with the AHRQ Quality
Indicators and their application; and,
• Availability to participate in
conference calls and provide written
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Frm 00049
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comments starting from late July
through October 2012.
Time Commitment
In an effort to solicit expert input and
recommendations on conversion of the
AHRQ QIs from ICD–9–CM to ICD–10–
CM/PCS, we are initiating a technical
review process that will require
participation in approximately three to
five conference calls with some pre and
post evaluation time (estimated at 13
hours). Results from this process will
influence the conversion of the AHRQ
QI from ICD–9–CM to ICD–10–CM/PCS.
Beginning in late July through October,
selected nominees will be asked to
participate in the following activities:
Workgroup Activities
1. Review the current ICD–9–CM
specifications of AHRQ QIs within the
workgroup’s clinical domain (e.g.,
cardiovascular disease, neurologic
disease, orthopedic and musculoskeletal
disease, obstetrics and gynecologic
disease, surgery, critical care and
pulmonary disease, diabetes and
endocrine disease, infectious disease,
neonatology and pediatric disease,
miscellaneous), along with background
documents justifying or explaining
those specifications (about 1.5 hours).
2. Participate in teleconference to
explain the workgroup activities and
processes, and to discuss current QI
specifications and their justification (1.0
hours).
3. Review proposed mapping of ICD–
9–CM to ICD–10–CM/PCS codes and
identify relevant questions and concerns
(about 3 hours).
4. Participate in teleconference to
discuss the proposed mappings,
including relevant questions and
concerns (1.5 hours).
5. Following a structured process
(e.g., modified Delphi), provide specific
input to support or modify the proposed
mappings (about 2.5 hours).
6. Participate in teleconference to
discuss areas of disagreement among
workgroup members, and to achieve
consensus when possible (1.5 hours).
7. Following a structured process
(e.g., modified Delphi), provide specific
input to support or modify the proposed
mappings, incorporating changes
accepted in previous steps (about 1.0
hour).
8. Participate in final (optional)
teleconference to review final
recommendations and discuss
contextual issues (1.0 hour).
Please note that should additional
conference calls be necessary,
workgroup members are expected to
make every effort to participate. The
workgroups will conduct business by
E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 107 / Monday, June 4, 2012 / Notices
telephone, email, or other electronic
means as needed.
Background
The AHRQ Quality Indicators (AHRQ
QIs) are a unique set of measures of
health care quality that make use of
readily available hospital inpatient
administrative data. The QIs have been
used for various purposes. Some of
these include tracking, hospital selfassessment, reporting of hospitalspecific quality or pay for performance.
The AHRQ QIs are provider- and arealevel quality indicators and currently
consist of four modules: the Prevention
Quality Indicators (PQI), the Inpatient
Quality Indicators, the Patient Safety
Indicators (PSI), and the Pediatric
Quality Indicators (PedQIs). AHRQ is
committed to converting the QIs from
ICD–9–CM to ICD–10–CM/PCS in an
accurate and transparent manner, taking
advantage of the additional specificity
of ICD–10–CM/PCS to improve the
validity and usefulness of the QIs, from
October 2014 onward.
Dated: May 24, 2012.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director, AHRQ.
[FR Doc. 2012–13306 Filed 6–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–M
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[Document Identifier: CMS–10390]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with the requirement
of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) is publishing the
following summary of proposed
collections for public comment.
Interested persons are invited to send
comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including any
of the following subjects: (1) The
necessity and utility of the proposed
information collection for the proper
performance of the agency’s functions;
(2) the accuracy of the estimated
burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (4) the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology to
ebenthall on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
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16:10 Jun 01, 2012
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minimize the information collection
burden.
1. Type of Information Collection
Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of
Information Collection: Hospice Quality
Reporting Program; Use: Section
1814(i)(5) of the Social Security Act (the
Act) added by section 3004 of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act, Public Law 111–148, enacted on
March 23, 2010 (Affordable Care Act)
authorizes the Secretary to establish a
quality reporting for hospices. Section
1814(i)(5)(A)(i) of the Act requires the
Secretary, beginning with FY 2014,
reduce the market basket update by 2
percentage points for any hospice that
does not comply with the quality data
submission requirements with respect to
that fiscal year.
The Hospice Quality Data Submission
Form was created for hospice providers
to collect specified quality data and
submit that data to CMS, for the data
collection period starting October 1,
2012, through December 31, 2012, and
continuing on a calendar year thereafter.
Webinar training on data collection and
data submission has been and will
continue to be provided by CMS. Use of
the Hospice Quality Data Submission
Form is necessary in order for hospices
to submit the quality data specified for
the Hospice Quality Reporting Program.
Form Number: CMS–10390 (OCN:
0938–1153); Frequency: Yearly; Affected
Public: Individuals and households;
Number of Respondents: 3632; Total
Annual Responses: 7264; Total Annual
Hours: 657,392. (For policy questions
regarding this collection contact Robin
Dowell at 410–786–0060. For all other
issues call 410–786–1326.)
To obtain copies of the supporting
statement and any related forms for the
proposed paperwork collections
referenced above, access CMS’ Web Site
address at https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
PaperworkReductionActof1995, or email
your request, including your address,
phone number, OMB number, and CMS
document identifier, to
Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or call the
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786–
1326.
In commenting on the proposed
information collections please reference
the document identifier or OMB control
number. To be assured consideration,
comments and recommendations must
be submitted in one of the following
ways by August 3, 2012:
1. Electronically. You may submit
your comments electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for ‘‘Comment or
Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’
PO 00000
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32977
to find the information collection
document(s) accepting comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address:
CMS, Office of Strategic Operations and
Regulatory Affairs, Division of
Regulations Development, Attention:
Document Identifier/OMB Control
Number, Room C4–26–05, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850.
Dated: May 29, 2012.
Martique Jones,
Director, Regulations Development Group,
Division B, Office of Strategic Operations and
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012–13402 Filed 6–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5600–FA–17]
Announcement of Funding Awards for
Fiscal Year 2012 Transformation
Initiative: Choice Neighborhoods
Demonstration Small Research Grant
Program
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Policy Development and
Research, HUD.
ACTION: Announcement of funding
awards.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section
102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Reform Act of 1989, Appendix A of this
notice announces HUD’s funding
awards for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012
Transformation Initiative: Choice
Neighborhoods Demonstration Small
Research Grant Program (‘‘Choice
research grants’’).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
Joice, Office of Policy Development and
Research, U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development. Room 8120,
451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC
20410. Paul.A.Joice@hud.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the Choice research grants
program is to fund research related to
Choice Neighborhoods that
complements other Choice
Neighborhoods research being pursued
by HUD. On January 19, 2012, HUD
published the Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) announcing
$500,000 in funds available for the
Choice research grants program. On
February 22, 2012, HUD published a
technical correction to the NOFA, to
provide additional details about other
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32975-32977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13306]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ Workgroups on ICD-10-CM/PCS Conversion of Quality Indicators
(QIs)
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is
seeking nominations for members of approximately 10 multidisciplinary
workgroups, to be convened by AHRQ's contractor, on ICD-10-CM/PCS
conversion of the AHRQ Quality Indicators (QIs).
DATES: Please submit nominations on or before June 29, 2012. Self-
nominations are welcome. Third-party nominations must indicate that the
individual has been contacted and is willing to serve on the workgroup.
Selected candidates will be notified no later than July 13, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be sent in the form of a letter or email,
preferably as an electronic file with an email attachment and should
specifically address the submission criteria as noted below. Electronic
submissions are strongly encouraged. Responses should be submitted to:
ATTN: John Bott, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for
Delivery, Organization and Markets, 540 Gaither Road, Room 5119,
Rockville, MD 20850, Email: john.bott@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bott, Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, Center for Delivery, Organization and Markets,
540 Gaither Road, Room 5119, Rockville, MD 20850, Email:
john.bott@AHRQ.hhs.gov; Phone: (301) 427-1317; Fax: (301) 427-1430.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These workgroups are being formed as part of
a structured approach for converting the
[[Page 32976]]
existing QI specifications from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS,
incorporating coding expertise, clinical expertise, and health services
research/quality measurement expertise. The workgroups will evaluate
the results of automated ``code mapping'' from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/
PCS, providing input and advice regarding similarities and differences
between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS codes that are mapped to each other.
This workgroup process will lead to recommendations regarding how the
existing AHRQ QIs should be re-specified using ICD-10-CM/PCS codes,
retaining the original clinical intent of each indicator while taking
advantage of the greater specificity of ICD-10-CM/PCS to improve the
indicator's validity. Workgroup participation will be uncompensated.
For additional information about the AHRQ QIs, please visit the
AHRQ Web site at https://www.QUALITYindicators.AHRQ.gov.
Specifically, each Workgroup on ICD-10-CM/PCS Conversion of Quality
Indicators will consist of:
At least three individuals with relevant clinical
expertise (e.g., cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, orthopedic
and musculoskeletal disease, obstetrics and gynecologic disease,
surgery, critical care and pulmonary disease, diabetes and endocrine
disease, infectious disease, neonatology and pediatric disease,
miscellaneous) and at least two individuals with relevant coding
expertise.
One or more individuals with field experience using AHRQ
QI measures for assessing hospital performance.
One or more individuals with expertise in validating ICD-
9-CM or ICD-10-CM/PCS codes using chart abstraction (to assess
criterion validity), or otherwise assessing their accuracy and
usefulness in identifying individuals with specific adverse outcomes.
One or more individuals with experience using data from
the AHRQ Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project or similar data for
the purpose of calculating AHRQ QIs.
Submission Criteria
To be considered for membership on a QI ICD-10-CM/PCS Conversion
Workgroup, please send the following information for each nominee:
1. A brief nomination letter highlighting experience and knowledge
relevant to the development, refinement, or testing of quality measures
based on ICD9-CM and/or ICD-10-CM/PCS coded data, and demonstrating
familiarity with the AHRQ QIs and health care administrative data. (See
selection criteria below.) The nominee's clinical or coding profession
and specialty, and the spectrum of his or her clinical or coding
expertise, should be described. Please include full contact information
of nominee: name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone and
fax numbers, and email address.
2. Curriculum vita (with citations to any pertinent publications
related to quality measure specification, ICD-9-CM, or ICD-10-CM/PCS).
3. Description of any financial interest, recent conduct, or
current or planned commercial, non-commercial, institutional,
intellectual, public service, or other activities pertinent to the
potential scope of the workgroups, which could be perceived as
influencing the workgroup's process or recommendations. The objective
is not to prevent nominees with potential conflicts of interest from
serving on the panels, but to obtain such information so as to best
inform the selection of workgroup members, and to help minimize such
conflicts.
Nominee Selection Criteria
Nominees should have technical expertise in health care quality
measure development, refinement, or application, and familiarity with
the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS code sets (especially insofar as they
are used to specify quality measures).
More specifically, each candidate will be evaluated using the
following criteria:
Knowledge of health care quality measurement using
administrative data in specific, relevant clinical domains (e.g.,
cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, orthopedic and
musculoskeletal disease, obstetrics and gynecologic disease, surgery,
critical care and pulmonary disease, diabetes and endocrine disease,
infectious disease, neonatology and pediatric disease, miscellaneous);
Peer-reviewed publications relevant to developing,
refining, testing, or applying health care quality measures based on
ICD-coded administrative data;
Other experience developing, refining, testing, or
applying health care quality measures based on ICD-coded administrative
data;
Expertise in ICD-9-CM and/or ICD-10-CM/PCS coding;
Expertise in hospital quality improvement, patient safety,
and/or clinical documentation improvement;
Familiarity with the AHRQ Quality Indicators and their
application; and,
Availability to participate in conference calls and
provide written comments starting from late July through October 2012.
Time Commitment
In an effort to solicit expert input and recommendations on
conversion of the AHRQ QIs from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS, we are
initiating a technical review process that will require participation
in approximately three to five conference calls with some pre and post
evaluation time (estimated at 13 hours). Results from this process will
influence the conversion of the AHRQ QI from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS.
Beginning in late July through October, selected nominees will be asked
to participate in the following activities:
Workgroup Activities
1. Review the current ICD-9-CM specifications of AHRQ QIs within
the workgroup's clinical domain (e.g., cardiovascular disease,
neurologic disease, orthopedic and musculoskeletal disease, obstetrics
and gynecologic disease, surgery, critical care and pulmonary disease,
diabetes and endocrine disease, infectious disease, neonatology and
pediatric disease, miscellaneous), along with background documents
justifying or explaining those specifications (about 1.5 hours).
2. Participate in teleconference to explain the workgroup
activities and processes, and to discuss current QI specifications and
their justification (1.0 hours).
3. Review proposed mapping of ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and
identify relevant questions and concerns (about 3 hours).
4. Participate in teleconference to discuss the proposed mappings,
including relevant questions and concerns (1.5 hours).
5. Following a structured process (e.g., modified Delphi), provide
specific input to support or modify the proposed mappings (about 2.5
hours).
6. Participate in teleconference to discuss areas of disagreement
among workgroup members, and to achieve consensus when possible (1.5
hours).
7. Following a structured process (e.g., modified Delphi), provide
specific input to support or modify the proposed mappings,
incorporating changes accepted in previous steps (about 1.0 hour).
8. Participate in final (optional) teleconference to review final
recommendations and discuss contextual issues (1.0 hour).
Please note that should additional conference calls be necessary,
workgroup members are expected to make every effort to participate. The
workgroups will conduct business by
[[Page 32977]]
telephone, email, or other electronic means as needed.
Background
The AHRQ Quality Indicators (AHRQ QIs) are a unique set of measures
of health care quality that make use of readily available hospital
inpatient administrative data. The QIs have been used for various
purposes. Some of these include tracking, hospital self-assessment,
reporting of hospital-specific quality or pay for performance. The AHRQ
QIs are provider- and area-level quality indicators and currently
consist of four modules: the Prevention Quality Indicators (PQI), the
Inpatient Quality Indicators, the Patient Safety Indicators (PSI), and
the Pediatric Quality Indicators (PedQIs). AHRQ is committed to
converting the QIs from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS in an accurate and
transparent manner, taking advantage of the additional specificity of
ICD-10-CM/PCS to improve the validity and usefulness of the QIs, from
October 2014 onward.
Dated: May 24, 2012.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director, AHRQ.
[FR Doc. 2012-13306 Filed 6-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
