CMS Recommends Measure Set for HCBS

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a letter to State Medicaid Directors releasing the recommended measure set for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The measures are intended to promote more common and consistent use within and across states of such nationally standardized quality measures in HCBS programs, create opportunities for CMS and states to have comparative quality data on HCBS programs and drive improvement in quality of care and outcomes for people receiving HCBS.

The letter includes the list of measures in the measure set and provides additional information on the purpose of the measure set, the measures included, measure selection criteria, organization of the measure set and considerations for implementation.

While use of the 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 program and future section 1115 demonstrations that include HCBS.