Study Shows Providers Can Improve Quality Reporting with HIE Data

May 21st, 2021 | Published Under Health Information Exchange by Jennifer Mensch

Better data leads to better reporting. 

Many healthcare providers strictly use local data and their certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) to report quality measures for programs such as Promoting Interoperability (formerly Meaningful Use) and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). A recent study from Diameter Health and KONZA sought to uncover whether integrating data from other sources like Health Information Exchange (HIE) contributes to improved clinical quality measures reporting.  

Published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, the study examined the effect on clinical quality measures when HIE data is layered on EHR data. Among the findings:  

  • Collecting data across care settings provides a more robust basis for quality measurement. 

  • Multi-source data fills gaps without having to labor with EHR integration. . 

  • Single source of truth assures validity and meets audit requirement for value-based payments.

Improved Performance Measures 
The study showed significant differences in quality measure calculations for 13 of the 14 measures studied. The following Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) are used in the MIPS Program in areas of Disease Control, Prevention and Utilization & Process -- and most are also used in HEDIS. 

  1. Controlling high blood pressure (cms165) 

  1. Diabetes: Annual eye exam (cms131) 

  1. Diabetes: Poor HbA1c control (cms122) 

  1. Diabetes: Attention for nephropathy (cms134) 

  1. Diabetes: Annual foot exam (cms123) 

  1. Breast cancer screening (cms125) 

  1. Cervical cancer screening (cms124) 

  1. Chlamydia screening for women (cms153) 

  1. Colorectal cancer screening (cms130) 

  1. Pneumonia vaccination of older adults (cms127) 

  1. Primary caries prevention (cms74) 

  1. Appropriate testing for children with pharyngitis (cms146) 

  1. Pediatric weight assessment: BMI percentile (cms155) 


Interoperability Plays an Important Role 

Health Information Exchanges like CORHIO that collect both Health Language 7 (HL7) and Continuity of Care Document (CCD) data provide a valuable service when making this information easily available to participating providers. The HIE data contributes to quality reporting – and higher performance rates and incentives.  

Beyond reporting and incentives, within the data often lies opportunities for process and care improvements. This can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.  

CORHIO’s Healthcare Quality Improvement Team 

  • Team of expert consults in Quality Reporting and Clinical Measures

  • Can assist in evaluating your EHR reports and work on improving your scores for several different reporting programs – and show how HIE can improve your data

  • Training staff how to document quality measures accurately to ensure best quality scores possible

  • Assessment of your patient volume and determining the amount of incentives you can earn and/or penalties you may incur

    To inquire how CORHIO’s Healthcare Quality Improvement Team can help your organization, Contact Us.

 

Topics: HIE, Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP), Quality Reporting

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