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Statewide Hospital Health Care Quality Measures Adopted Rule Published

Published Monday, February 25, 2013

As part of health reform legislation passed in 2008, the Minnesota Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System (SQRMS) requires all hospitals, physician clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers to submit data on quality measures for the purpose of public reporting. The goal of this initiative is greater transparency about provider performance and, ultimately, improved health care for Minnesotans. The 2012 amendments to Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4654, Permanent Rules Relating to Health Care Quality Measures were published in the State Register on November 13, 2012, and are to be collected and reported starting in January 2013. Final rule and appendices

Hospital Measure Changes For 2013 Reporting Year

  • No new measures.
  • One measure was dropped. The NIH stroke scale performed at initial evaluation was removed as a required measure in response to numerous comments submitted about the proposed rule concerning evidentiary basis and appropriate use of the NIH stroke scale. MDH determined that the measure was found to be an insufficient metric for measuring performance for stroke care.

The following new resources are available to support Minnesota hospitals in their efforts to collect and submit data as part of SQRMS:

  • SQRMS Timeline. This timeline denotes the process for recommending and approving SQRMS measures. (1-page Word doc)
  • 2013 Hospital Measures Summary. Refer to this summary for Inpatient Quality Reporting FY2015 and Outpatient Reporting CY2014 data collection. (7-page PDF)
  • Data Collection Guide for ED Transfer Communication Measures. Refer to this step-by-step guide for data collection and submission of ED transfer communication measures. (21-page PDF)

Reporting Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) Summary

HAI quality measures previously submitted through the Minnesota Hospital Association have been updated to align with CMS measure submission through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Refer to this summary of the reporting requirements. (1-page PDF)

The Minnesota Department of Health and its supporting partners, Minnesota Hospital Association, MN Community Measurement, and Stratis Health, are working together to support the implementation of the Hospital Health Care Quality Measures adopted rule. If you have questions related to the amended rules, please contact one of the following people: