Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality May 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is seeking nominations for members of an AHRQ-convened Workgroup on risk adjustment specifically aimed at the AHRQ Quality Indicators (QIS). This Workgroup is being formed as part of a structured approach for evaluating risk-adjustment and the appropriateness of hierarchical modeling methodology for the AHRQ Quality Indicators at the area and/or provider levels. The Workgroup will evaluate appropriate technical and methodological approaches currently available, and will also discuss and suggest strategies as to what risk adjustment approach(s), if any, would best fit AHRQ QI user needs. As part of this effort and using the AHRQ QIs, the Workgroup member will be addressing several key issues for the development of a risk adjustment methodology, including but not limited to: Statistical and methodological issues related to the development and validation of risk adjusted models that predict patient outcomes using administrative data, and are suitable for assessing quality at different levels (individual hospital, State, region). Methods for comparing the performance of hierarchical methods with previously employed methods based on administrative data to improve predictive and discriminant ability, and overall fit. Appropriate use of sub-sampling techniques for model validation. Computation of confidence intervals for assessing provider-specific and State-level performance in comparison to national summary statistics (means or percentiles). For additional information about the AHRQ QIs, please visit the AHRQ Web site at https://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov. Specifically, the AHRQ QIs Risk Adjustment Workgroup will consist of up to 9 individuals who are familiar with different risk adjustment methodologies including hierarchical modeling approaches. The Workgroup will have a series of conference calls to discuss the technical and policy issues surrounding risk adjustment for the AHRQ QIs and will then assist AHRQ in developing a report that will aim to summarize the discussions and suggestions of the workgroup, which will be made available for public comment.

42 U.S.C. 299c, section 931 of the Public Health Service (PHS Act), established a National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council). The Council is to advise the Secretary of HHS and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on matters related to actions of the Agency to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. Eight current members' terms will expire in November 2006. To fill these positions in accordance with the legislative mandate establishing the Council, we are seeking individuals who are distinguished: (1) In the conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations with respect to health care; (2) In the fields of health care quality research or health care improvement; (3) In the practice of medicine; (4) In other health professions; (5) In representing the private health care sector (including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or administrators of health care delivery systems; (6) In the fields of health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and, (7) In representing the interests of patients and consumers of health care. Individuals are particularly sought with experience and success in activities specified in the summary above.