Source: https://www.healthit.gov/test-method/clinical-quality-measures-cqms-record-and-export
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 10:38:21+00:00

Document:
Clarification that Record Sampling does not require the use of a user interface. Manual Entry (now Record Sampling) can alternatively be performed with creation and import of structured data.
In paragraph (c)(1)(ii) SUT step 2 and TLV step 3, clarification was added that the SUT must be able to supply both single patient and multiple patient QRDA files.
In paragraph (c)(1)(ii) TLV step 3, reference to the Cypress Test Tool User Interface and the QRDA validation report was omitted for clarification.
In paragraph (c)(1)(ii), added TLV clarification that the tester can choose at their discretion which individual patient will be tested to exporting the QRDA Category I file.
Clarification that record batch entry is not required for developers only seeking certification for (c)(1) and not other CQM criteria.
"Record Sampling" was changed to "Record Entry" for clarity.
In paragraph (c)(1)(ii), updated the Alternative section to align with the correct steps a tester would take if using the Cypress Certification API.
Updated ‘step #’ to reference the actual step description.
That includes all of the data captured for each and every CQM to which technology was certified under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section.
Note: Record entry is not limited to use of a user interface. If a user interface entry is not available, the record entry can be demonstrated with the creation of structured documents (e.g. QRDA, C-CDA, or custom format) and their import into the SUT. These structured documents must be created by the health IT developer at the time of certification and must contain the specified data.
If a health IT developer is only testing to and seeking certification to § 170.315(c)(1), and not other CQM criteria (i.e. § 170.315(c)(2)-(c)(4)), record batch entry is not required to be tested.
Using the “Cypress Gold Standard Test Data” instructions provided by Cypress, a user demonstrates the recording of data needed for each of the certified CQMs, using codified entries for data required for all CQM data elements.
The tester creates the “Cypress Gold Standard Test Data” based upon the Health IT Module provided information using Cypress to create a new (c)(1) test instance.
Through visual inspection, the tester verifies that the test data that is denoted for record entry can be recorded in a patient record within the Health IT Module, using the health IT developer identified data entry functions.
Note: If a health IT developer is only testing to and seeking certification to § 170.315(c)(1), and not other CQM criteria (i.e. § 170.315(c)(2)-(c)(4)), record batch entry is not required to be tested.
The tester verifies through visual inspection that the test data recorded for each of the certified CQMs can be batch recorded in a patient record within the Health IT Module, using the health IT developer identified entry functions.
The tester verifies through visual inspection that all of the test data that will be used to calculate each CQM has been recorded in a patient record within the Health IT Module for each of the CQMs to be certified.
The tester verifies through visual inspection that the data required for CQM data criteria within the Health IT Module are codified entries.
The health IT developer submits documentation that demonstrates how a user can export a file at any time the user chooses and without subsequent developer assistance.
Based upon the patient records updated in paragraph (c)(1)(i), a user exports, at any time and without any developer assistance, a data file formatted in accordance with the standard specified at § 170.205(h)(2) HL7 CDA® Release 2 Implementation Guide for: Quality Reporting Document Architecture – Category I (QRDA I); Release 1, DSTU Release 3, Volume 1 for a single patient and for multiple patients for each eCQM presented for certification.
Via documentation submitted by the health IT developer, the tester verifies that a QRDA I data file(s) can be exported at any time (on-demand) and without any developer assistance for one or more CQMs associated with one or more patients for the eCQMs chosen by the provider and for the chosen reporting period.
reviews the QRDA validation report for errors.
The tester verifies that the data file is formatted according to the standard specified at § 170.205(h)(2) for a single patient and multiple patients correctly and without omission.
Testers are permitted to randomly select, at their discretion, which individual patient from the batch entry recording will be used to export a QRDA Category I file in order to demonstrate compliance in this area. The tester instructs the health IT developer to export the selected patient and confirms that this patient was exported.
A tester may use the Cypress Certification API to upload the data file submitted by the Health IT Module. The tester can verify the results in Cypress as normal, however, the tester should manually verify all relevant steps of the TLV for at least one CQM to ensure this functionality is present, including reviewing the QRDA validation report for errors and that the data file is formatted according to the standard specified. Testers are permitted to randomly select, at their discretion, which individual patient from the batch entry recording will be used to export a QRDA Category I file in order to demonstrate this functionality is present. The tester instructs the health IT developer to export the selected patient and confirms that this patient was exported.
Revised to include clarification about testing, certification, and surveillance expectations for paragraph (c)(1)(ii).
Revised to include optional manual testing utility language.
Privacy and Security: This certification criterion was adopted at § 170.315(c)(1). As a result, an ONC-ACB must ensure that a product presented for certification to a § 170.315(c) “paragraph (c)” criterion includes the privacy and security criteria (adopted in § 170.315(d)) within the overall scope of the certificate issued to the product.
Health IT needs to be able to record all data necessary to successfully calculate selected clinical quality measures (CQMs).
The specific version, number, and type of CQMs presented for certification are determined at the developer’s discretion. We recommend developers consult any CMS or other programs’ requirements around the specific version, number, or type of CQMs required for providers in determining the CQMs presented for certification.
Certain CMS programs require or provide the option for electronic CQM (eCQM) reporting. These programs include the EHR Incentive Program, the Physician Quality Reporting System, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative, CPC Plus, and the Value-Based Payment Modifier Program. Each year, CMS issues annual updates to eCQMs (herein referred to as the “CMS annual measure update(s)”) which are published on the Electronic Clinical Quality Improvement (eCQI) Resource Center. The CMS annual measure updates rely upon a specific version of the Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category I standard. Each year’s QRDA Category I standard is referenced in the corresponding CMS QRDA Implementation Guide (IG) associated with that program year and CMS annual measure update. The CMS QRDA IG also contains additional programmatic form and manner requirements necessary for reporting to CMS programs, which make it necessary for the corresponding testing tools to keep pace with these measure updates and CMS reporting requirements. Thus, health IT developers are permitted to be tested and certified to the applicable CMS annual measure update and use the corresponding version of QRDA Category I standard referenced in the CMS QRDA IG. ONC will evaluate the need for future rulemaking to align the version of QRDA Category I standard required for this certification criterion with the version of QRDA Category I standard in the CMS annual measure update.
After technology is certified to specific CQMs for this 2015 Edition certification criterion at § 170.315(c)(1), technology is not required to recertify to the annual measure specification updates CMS issues to maintain 2015 Edition certification unless that product is relabeled. Said another way, other programs, such as the EHR Incentive Programs, may require developers to upgrade their technology to the newest CQM specifications, but the technology is not required to be retested or recertified for eCQMs already certified unless explicitly specified in other program requirements. [see also ONC FAQ #42] It is expected that all systems will test all measure and standards updates as a best practice. The testing tools are available for each CMS annual measure update and when there are late standards errata or CMS requirement changes to facilitate additional testing for products using eCQMs.
Technical outcome – The health IT must be able to record all data necessary to calculate CQMs presented for certification.
Providers may employ many methods to capture the information required by CQMs. Information transferred from other systems can meet the requirement for “capture.” [see also 77 FR 54230] We recommend developers include functionality that allows users to view any information transferred from other systems.
ONC-Authorized Testing Labs (ONC-ATLs) are permitted to provide flexibility regarding data elements for manual entry where the measure allows multiple ways to express the same data criteria or alternate data criteria where appropriate.
Data required for CQM exclusion or exceptions must be codified entries and may include specific terms defined by each CQM selected. Free text is permitted to be captured in addition to the minimum requirement to capture data as a codified entry.
Specific reasons why an action was performed or not performed to determine whether the patient meets an exclusion or exception should be recorded as part of the generated QRDA Category I file.
Technical outcome – A user can export a data file formatted in accordance with HL7 QRDA Category I Release 3 or the corresponding version of the QRDA standard for the CMS annual measure update being certified for one or multiple patients that includes all of the data captured in (c)(1)(i) of this criterion.
Testing and Certification. Successful testing and certification does not require the evaluation of the time required to process a CQM data file. To illustrate, a delay between when a user initiates an export and receives the resulting data file would not, by itself, preclude successful testing of the technology or the issuance of a certification on the basis of those successful test results.
Surveillance. While the CQM export capability does not require that data be received instantaneously, a non-conformity would exist if surveillance revealed that processing or other delays were likely to substantially interfere with the ability of a provider or health system to view and verify their CQM results for quality improvement on a near real-time basis. [80 FR 62650] Similarly, a non-conformity would exist if delays were causing or contributing to users being presented with data files that no longer contained current, accurate, or valid data. To avoid these implementation issues and ensure that capabilities support all required outcomes, health IT developers should seek to minimize processing times and other delays to the greatest extent possible. We note also that any delays must be disclosed in accordance with 170.523(k)(1).

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