Now available! Our new Provider Data Catalog makes it easier for you to search and download publicly reported data. We’ve also improved Medicare’s compare sites.
Background:
The reporting of quality data by home health agencies (HHAs) is mandated by Section 1895(b)(3)(B)(v)(II) of the Social Security Act (“the Act”). In addition, the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) requires the reporting of standardized patient assessment data on quality, resource use, and other measures by Post-Acute Care (PAC) providers, including home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care hospitals.
Care Compare Tool on Medicare.gov
The compare tool on Medicare.gov formats the reported data to be readily used by the public, which provides a snapshot of the quality of care for home health services (HHS). This tool helps families compare some key quality metrics related to a variety of best practices, such as managing daily activities and preventing harm, for over 12,000 HHAs across the nation.
Quality Measures for HH QRP Public Reporting
- Improvement in Ambulation/Locomotion [CMIT Measure ID #00364 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Improvement in Dyspnea [CMIT Measure ID #00369 (not endorsed)]
- Improvement in Management of Oral Medications [CMIT Measure ID #00371 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Improvement in Bed Transferring [CMIT Measure ID #00366 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Improvement in Bathing [CMIT Measure ID #00365 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Influenza Immunization Received for Current Flu Seasons [CMIT Measure ID #00389 (not endorsed)]
- Changes in Skin Integrity Post-Acute Care: Pressure Ulcer/Injury [CMIT Measure ID #00121 (not endorsed)]
- Transfer of Health Information to the Patient – PAC [CMIT Measure ID #00727 (not endorsed)]
- Transfer of Health Information to the Provider – PAC [CMIT Measure ID #00728 (not endorsed)]
- Timely Initiation of Care [CMIT Measure ID #00719 (not endorsed)]
- Home Health Within-Stay Potentially Preventable Hospitalization [CMIT Measure ID #01222 (not endorsed)]
- Drug Regimen Review Conducted with Follow-Up for Identified Issues – PAC HH QRP [CMIT Measure ID #00225 (not endorsed)]
- Application of Percent of Residents Experiencing One or More Falls with Major Injury (Long Stay) [CMIT Measure ID #00520 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Potentially Preventable 30-Day Post-Discharge Readmission for HH QRP [CMIT Measure ID #00575 (not endorsed)]
- Discharge to Community – PAC HH QRP [CMIT Measure ID #00210 (CBE-endorsed)]
- Total Estimated Medicare Spending per Beneficiary – PAC HH QRP [CMIT Measure ID #00434 (not endorsed)]
- Discharge Function Score [CMIT Measure ID #01698 (not endorsed)]
Provider Preview Reports
Before quality measure (QM) data is publicly reported on the compare tool on Medicare.gov, HHAs have an opportunity to review and correct, as well as preview, their data. A Review and Correct Report is available for providers to access in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reporting system, which will assist them in identifying whether there are any issues with the assessment data already collected and submitted before the applicable quarterly data submission deadlines. Correction of any errors identified by the agency must be submitted by the final submission deadlines found in the Home Health Quality Reporting Data Submission Deadlines webpage.
Following the QRP data submission deadline, CMS shares the following quarterly reports displaying the data that will be publicly reported:
- HHA Provider Preview Reports
- Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Provider Preview Reports
- HHCAHPS Preview Reports with Star Ratings
- Requests for CMS review of data may be submitted to CMS beginning on the day the Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Provider Preview Reports are available in the HHA internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) folders through 11:59:59 p.m. PST on day 30 of the preview period.
- CMS will not accept any requests for review of data that are submitted after the posted deadline, which falls on the last day of the preview period.
- HHAs are required to submit their request to CMS via email with the subject line: “[Provider Name] HHA Public Reporting Request for Review of Data” and include their HHA CMS Certification Number (CCN) (e.g., ABC Home Health Agency Public Reporting Request for Review of Data, XXXXXX). The request must be sent to the following email address: HHC_Star_Ratings_Review_Request@cms.hhs.gov.
- The email request must include the following information:
- Provider name and CCN
- Provider contact person – Name, Telephone #, email address
- Measure(s) affected, if any
- Detailed reason for the request with supporting documentation (do not send identifiable patient information through email)
- Any other information to assist CMS in identifying the calculation error and determining if the error(s) have affected your Star Rating
- After submitting a request, HHAs will receive an email confirming receipt of their request and may be asked to provide additional information to allow CMS to fully evaluate the request. Such requests from CMS will be sent to the contact person named above.
- CMS will review all requests and provide a response outlining the decision via email. Please note that HHA-identified errors in data resulting from inaccurate data submissions that a HHA failed to correct prior to the applicable quarterly data submission deadline are not acceptable reasons for granting reconsideration. Also, CMS will not consider correcting quality measure calculations that providers find to be inaccurate due to missing data that was submitted beyond the applicable quarterly data submission deadline.
- Data that CMS decides/agrees to correct will be corrected and displayed during the subsequent quarterly release of HHA quality data on the compare tool on Medicare.gov.
The purpose of these reports is to give HHAs the opportunity to review their quality measure results on each quality measure prior to public display on the compare tool on Medicare.gov.
HHCAHPS Preview Reports
The HHCAHPS Preview Reports with Star Ratings are available on https://homehealthcahps.org via the "Survey Preview Report” link under the “For HHAs” tab. This preview report is made available approximately 3 weeks before the HHCAHPS Survey results are publicly reported.
Provider and Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Preview Reports
HH Provider Preview Reports and Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Provider Preview Reports are available in the internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) by selecting “My Reports.” HHAs will have 30 days to preview their assessment-based and claims-based quality measure results beginning on the date the reports are available. HHAs reviewing their preview reports will not be able to correct any of the underlying data, as all data submission/correction deadlines for the targeted period will have passed.
A HHA may request a CMS review of the data contained within their Quality of Patient Care Star Rating Provider Preview Report, should they believe the quality measure results to be inaccurate (numerator, denominator or quality metric). All such requests must be made during the 30-day preview period.
Procedures for Requesting CMS Review of an HHA’s Measure Data:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) encourage home health agencies (HHAs) to review their data as provided in the preview reports. If an HHA disagrees with performance data (i.e., the numerator, denominator, or quality metric) contained within their preview report, they will have an opportunity to request a review of that data by CMS. To make such a request, HHA providers must adhere to the process outlined below:
Please note: The only method for submitting a request to CMS for review of your preview report data is via email (HHC_Star_Ratings_Review_Request@cms.hhs.gov).
Requests submitted by any other means will not be reviewed. CMS will not review any requests that include protected health information (PHI) or other Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violations in the request being submitted to CMS for review.
To view updated quality data, please visit the compare tool on Medicare.gov.
Updates
April 23, 2025
Public Reporting April 2025 Refresh of HH QRP Data – Now Available
The April 2025 refresh of the HH QRP is now available on the compare tool on Medicare.gov and Provider Data Catalog (PDC).
The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by HHAs to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from Quarter 3, 2023 through Quarter 2, 2024. The data for the claims-based measures will display data from Quarter 1, 2022 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Discharge to Community and Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary measures, Quarter 1, 2021 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Potentially Preventable 30-Day Post-Discharge Readmission measure, and Quarter 1, 2023 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Home Health Within-Stay Potentially Preventable Hospitalization measure. Additionally, the data for the HHCAHPS measures will display data from Quarter 4, 2023 through Quarter 3, 2024.
Please visit the compare tool on Medicare.gov and PDC to view the updated quality data. For questions about HH QRP Public Reporting, please email homehealthqualityquestions@cms.hhs.gov.
January 15, 2025
Public Reporting January 2025 Refresh of HH QRP Data – Now Available
The January 2025 refresh of the HH QRP is now available on the compare tool on Medicare.gov and Provider Data Catalog (PDC).
The data are based on quality assessment data submitted by HHAs to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from Quarter 2, 2023 through Quarter 1, 2024. The data for the claims-based measures will display data from Quarter 1, 2022 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Discharge to Community and Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary measures, Quarter 1, 2021 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Potentially Preventable 30-Day Post-Discharge Readmission measure, and Quarter 1, 2023 through Quarter 4, 2023 for the Home Health Within-Stay Potentially Preventable Hospitalization measure. Additionally, the data for the HHCAHPS measures will display data from Quarter 3, 2023 through Quarter 2, 2024.
Please visit the compare tool on Medicare.gov and PDC to view the updated quality data. For questions about HH QRP Public Reporting, please email homehealthqualityquestions@cms.hhs.gov.