Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act

Bill: 119-hr-483
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Introduced: 2025-01-16
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Computers and information technology

Congressional oversight

Department of Health and Human Services

Health information and medical records

Health programs administration and funding

Internet, web applications, social media

Medicaid

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay certain requirements relating to the reporting of quality measures by accountable care organizations (ACOs) and to also test alternative reporting methods for ACOs.</p><p>Specifically, the CMS must delay the requirement that ACOs use a specified electronic system for reporting quality measures until January 1, 2030. Additionally, the CMS must establish a pilot program to test other digital reporting methods; ACOs that participate in the pilot program are exempt from using the existing electronic system.&nbsp;</p><p>The CMS must also implement standards for digital reporting by January 1, 2030, that ensure all electronic health record systems used by ACOs are able to support reporting across a range of practice sizes, specialties, and geographic locations. ACOs may use existing reporting methods until the standards are implemented.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 483 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2025 Mr. Buchanan (for himself, Mr. Panetta , and Mr. Crenshaw ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to delay the implementation of electronic clinical quality metrics for accountable care organizations, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act . 2. Delay in implementation of eCQMs for ACOs (a) Delay of eCQM implementation The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall delay the implementation of the requirement for ACOs to transition from reporting quality measures via the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services Web Interface portal to electronic Clinical Quality Metrics (eCQMs), as described in the rule titled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments (89 Fed. Reg. 97710 (December 9, 2024)), until January 1, 2030. (b) Pilot program for digital reporting methods (1) In general Not later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall establish and commence a pilot program to test digital reporting methods for quality measures on a subset of ACOs and ACO participants that submit an application to participate in such pilot program at such time and in such form as the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) Temporary exemption from eCQM requirements An ACO or an ACO participant participating in the pilot program shall be exempt from mandatory eCQM reporting requirements during the duration of the pilot program. (3) No effect on payment incentives Participation in the pilot program shall have no effect on the eligibility of an ACO or an ACO participant to qualify for or earn an incentive payment under section 1833(z) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(z) ) or a payment adjustment under section 1848(q) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(q) ). (4) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, including waivers from any applicable quality reporting requirements, to ACOs and providers participating in the pilot program to incentivize their participation and to evaluate the efficacy of digital reporting methods. (5) Report Not later than January 1, 2028, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (A) the findings and results of the pilot program carried out under paragraph (1); and (B) any recommendations for increasing the adoption by additional ACOs of the digital reporting methods tested under such pilot program. (c) Development of long-Term digital quality reporting standards (1) In general Not later than January 1, 2030, the Secretary shall implement standards for digital quality reporting metrics and formats. Such standards shall ensure that all EHR systems used by an ACO are capable of supporting digital reporting methods across a diverse range of practice sizes, specialties, and geographic locations. (2) Consultation In developing the standards described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, EHR vendors, ACOs, payers, and national medical and specialty physician groups. (d) Continued use of existing reporting methods (1) In general An ACO or ACO participant may use the CMS Web Interface portal, MIPS CQMs, Medicare CQMs, eCQMs, or any other previously established quality reporting methods, for the purpose of meeting such requirements until the date on which the Secretary promulgates the standardized digital quality reporting methods under subsection (c). (2) Exemption No penalties shall be imposed on ACOs or ACO participants for failure to comply with eCQM requirements during the period prior to January 1, 2030, provided they are in compliance with existing reporting methods. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) ACO The term ACO has the meaning given the term accountable care organization in section 425.20 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. (2) ACO participant The term ACO participant has the meaning given such term in section 425.20 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. (3) EHR The term EHR has the meaning given the term certified EHR technology in section 1848(o) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o) ).