183 
factors, including recommenda-
tions on how to address barriers 
to the Centers in accessing such 
data; and 
(ii) account for such factors in 
determining 
payment 
adjust-
ments based on quality and re-
source 
use 
outcome 
measures 
under the eligible professional 
value-based performance incen-
tive 
program 
under 
section 
1848(q) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(q)) and, as the 
Secretary 
determines 
appro-
priate, other similar provisions of 
title XVIII of such Act. 
(E) FUNDING.—There are hereby 
appropriated from the Federal Sup-
plemental Medical Insurance Trust 
Fund to the Secretary to carry out 
this paragraph $6,000,000, to remain 
available until expended. 
(2) CMS ACTIVITIES.— 
(A) HIERARCHAL
CONDITION
CAT-
EGORY
(HCC)
IMPROVEMENT.—Taking 
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into account the relevant studies con-
ducted and recommendations made 
in reports under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary, on an ongoing basis, shall 
estimate how an individual’s health 
status and other risk factors affect 
quality and resource use outcome 
measures and, as feasible, shall incor-
porate information from quality and 
resource use outcome measurement 
(including care episode and patient 
condition groups) into the eligible 
professional value-based performance 
incentive 
program 
under 
section 
1848(q) of the Social Security Act and, 
as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, other similar provisions of 
title XVIII of such Act. 
(B) ACCOUNTING
FOR
OTHER
FAC-
TORS IN PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT MECHA-
NISMS.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Taking into 
account the studies conducted 
and recommendations made in re-
ports under paragraph (1), the 
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Secretary shall account for identi-
fied factors (other than those ap-
plied under subparagraph (A)) 
with an effect on quality and re-
source 
use 
outcome 
measures 
when determining payment ad-
justments under the eligible pro-
fessional 
value-based 
perform-
ance incentive program under 
section 1848(q) of the Social Secu-
rity Act and, as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate, other simi-
lar provisions of title XVIII of 
such Act. 
(ii) ACCESSING DATA.—The Sec-
retary shall collect or otherwise 
obtain access to the data nec-
essary to carry out this para-
graph through existing and new 
data sources. 
(iii) PERIODIC
ANALYSES.—The 
Secretary shall carry out periodic 
analyses, at least every 3 years, 
based on the factors referred to in 
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clause 
(i) 
so 
as 
to 
monitor 
changes in possible relationships. 
(C) FUNDING.—There are hereby 
appropriated from the Federal Sup-
plemental Medical Insurance Trust 
Fund to the Secretary to carry out 
this paragraph $10,000,000, to remain 
available until expended. 
(3) STRATEGIC
PLAN
FOR
ACCESSING 
RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA.—Not later than 
18 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop 
and report to Congress on a strategic 
plan for collecting or otherwise accessing 
data on race and ethnicity for purposes 
of carrying out the eligible professional 
value-based performance incentive pro-
gram under section 1848(q) of the Social 
Security Act and, as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate, other similar provi-
sions of title XVIII of such Act. 
(h) COLLABORATING WITH
THE PHYSICIAN, 
PRACTITIONER, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER COM-
MUNITIES TO IMPROVE RESOURCE USE MEASURE-
MENT.—Section 1848 of the Social Security Act 
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smartinez on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
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(42 U.S.C. 1395w–4), as amended by subsection 
(c), is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(r) COLLABORATING WITH THE PHYSICIAN, 
PRACTITIONER, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER COM-
MUNITIES TO IMPROVE RESOURCE USE MEASURE-
MENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to involve 
the physician, practitioner, and other 
stakeholder communities in enhancing 
the infrastructure for resource use meas-
urement, including for purposes of the 
value-based performance incentive pro-
gram under subsection (q) and alter-
native payment models under section 
1833(z), the Secretary shall undertake the 
steps described in the succeeding provi-
sions of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT
OF
CARE
EPISODE 
AND PATIENT CONDITION GROUPS AND CLAS-
SIFICATION CODES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In order to clas-
sify similar patients into distinct care 
episode groups and distinct patient 
condition groups, the Secretary shall 
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undertake the steps described in the 
succeeding provisions of this para-
graph. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF EXIST-
ING
EFFORTS
TO
DESIGN
AN
EPISODE 
GROUPER.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection, the Secretary shall post 
on the Internet website of the Cen-
ters for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices a list of the episode groups devel-
oped pursuant to subsection (n)(9)(A) 
and related descriptive information. 
‘‘(C) 
STAKEHOLDER
INPUT.—The 
Secretary shall accept, through the 
date that is 60 days after the day the 
Secretary posts the list pursuant to 
subparagraph (B), suggestions from 
physician specialty societies, applica-
ble practitioner organizations, and 
other stakeholders for episode groups 
in addition to those posted pursuant 
to such subparagraph, and specific 
clinical criteria and patient charac-
teristics to classify patients into— 
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