Today, CMS is releasing the first-ever home- and community-Based Services (HCBS) quality measure set to promote consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs. The measure set is intended to provide insight into the quality of HCBS programs and enable states to measure and improve health outcomes for people relying on long-term services and support (LTSS) in Medicaid. The release of this voluntary measure set is also a critical step to promoting health equity among the millions of older adults and people with disabilities who need LTSS because of disabling conditions and chronic illnesses.
While use of this measure set is voluntary at this time, CMS plans to incorporate use of the measure set into the reporting requirements for specific authorities and programs, including the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program and future section 1115 demonstrations that include HCBS.
The HCBS quality measure set is included in a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) that also describes the purpose of the measure set, the measure selection criteria, and considerations for implementation. CMS strongly encourages states to use this information to assess and improve quality and outcomes in their HCBS programs. CMS expects to update the measure set in the future, including adding newly developed measures that address measure gaps, as the field of HCBS measure development advances.
Medicaid is a key part of the administration’s ongoing effort to provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible health care to all Americans. The HCBS quality measure set is one piece of a larger Medicaid quality strategy. CMS is committed to supporting states as they measure quality, close quality gaps, and drive high quality outcomes across their Medicaid programs. CMS will continue to work alongside states, providers, health plans, and community partners to ensure people in all communities receive high quality Medicaid coverage.
Please click here to review the (SMDL) on the HCBS quality measure set.