CMS is conducting a second review and corrections period, from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, for the fiscal year 2017 Hospital Acquired Condition Reduction Program. CMS is initiating the second review period because the agency identified an error with the risk adjustment in Clostridium difficile infection data for the first two quarters of 2014.
The error occurred in data for hospitals that modified their CDI test type in either the first or second quarter of 2014 from what was reported on their 2013 National Healthcare Safety Network Annual Survey. The CDI measure error will be resolved for hospitals participating in the three affected programs:
• HAC Reduction Program
• Hospital VBP Program
• Hospital IQR Program and Hospital Compare
Additionally, CMS issued a technical update regarding the CDI measure performance standards calculated for the fiscal year 2018 Hospital VBP Program. The updated performance standards are:
• FY 2018 Benchmark: 0.004
• FY 2018 Achievement Threshold: 0.805
CMS will update the archived databases on the Hospital Compare website and will include more information regarding the corrected CDI data in future communications.