01 Dec The Task Force Releases Accelerating the Use of Patient-Reported Quality Measures in Value-Based Care
WASHINGTON (December 01, 2023) – The Health Care Transformation Task Force (HCTTF or Task Force) – a group of leading health care payers, providers, purchasers, patient organizations, and value transformation partners – released a new resource titled Accelerating the Use of Patient-Reported Quality Measures in Value-Based Care. This resource explores the benefits of Patient-Reported Quality Measures (PRQMs), which encompass Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs), in advancing effective value-based care.
Assessing patients’ experiences of care and whether desirable patient outcomes are achieved are foundational to providing high-quality, person-centered care. However, tools for collecting these data in the form of PRQMs are not being used as widely in payment models as are clinical quality measures. The Task Force believes that PRQM policies should focus on creating financial incentives, to account for the investment needed to develop, implement, and collect PRQM data for quality improvement efforts. In addition to defining the value of these measures in transforming care delivery, this new resource explores challenges in their implementation and offers recommendations for their use and potential impact on health equity strategies.
Some practical steps for accelerating the use of PRQMs include:
- Supporting the infrastructure development necessary for successful implementation.
- Creating financial incentives in value-based payment (VBP) models to support adoption of PRQMs prior to being paid based on how those measures are used.
- Designing VBP programs that include PRQMs as outcome measures.
- Training health care professionals and institutions on how to best administer the tools.
- Supporting research that informs how PRQMs can be used to improve patient-desired outcomes.
“The use of patient-reported quality measures is essential for delivering effective value-based care that produces outcomes patients want,“ said Todd Van Tol, Executive Vice President of Health Care Value, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and HCTTF Board Chair. “These measures provide critical insight into the patient perspective and offer a solid foundation for improving care delivery in ways most meaningful to them.”
“To date, the use of PRQMs has not kept pace with the uptake of value-based care models, yet they are vital for ensuring these innovative models deliver fully for patients,” said Jeff Micklos, Executive Director, HCTTF. “This new Task Force resource recognizes the challenges organizations face in implementing PROMs and PREMs while offering critical strategies for success.”
“While clinical quality measures are foundational to improving health care delivery, the use of patient-reported quality measures is pivotal in improving the patient care experience and health outcomes,” said Sarah Coombs, Director for Health System Transformation, National Partnership for Women & Families and HCTTF Patient-Centered Priorities Work Group Co-Chair. “When PRQMs are designed and implemented with equity as a guiding principle, they can also help identify where health inequities exist and inform strategies to advance health equity and improve care for all.”