Mandatory Statewide Quality Reporting System Launches

As part of the 2008 Health Care Reform Act, all Minnesota physician clinics will be required to register with the state and submit quality data. Implementation timelines are approaching and clinics should begin preparations now.  

As part of the new statewide quality reporting and measurement system, all Minnesota clinics must register with the Commissioner of Health regardless of specialty, size, or location. MN Community Measurement will collect registrations for the Commissioner of Health in 2010. Clinics will need to supply the names, specialties, National Provider Identifier (NPI), and contact information for all practitioners in the clinic. Register your clinic at www.mncm.org.  If you have questions about registration or using the MN Community Measurement portal, contact MN Community Measurement at support@mncm.org.

At a minimum all clinics will need to report on their use of health information technology (HIT). The yearly HIT survey is Internet-based and MN Community Measurement will disseminate the survey to practices who have registered. In addition, in 2010 primary care and select specialties will be required to include data about diabetes and vascular care outcomes. The diabetes measure focuses on blood sugar levels, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking cessation, and aspirin use. The cardiovascular disease measure is similar but does not include the blood sugar component. The Commissioner of Health will continue to add additional measures each year – with a depression measure based on the PHQ-9 depression scale required for reporting in 2011. Data will be based on care provided in 2010, so clinics should prepare now.

If clinics are new to submitting data to MN Community Measurement, there are resources that can help. The 2010 DDS Guide, which addresses steps in the reporting process, is available at www.mncm.org.  If you have questions about reporting, contact MN Community Measurement at support@mncm.org.

The submitted data will be used to develop an annual public report on health care quality. Beginning July 1, 2010, the Minnesota Department of Health will publish clinic-level results. Before the public report is released, there will be an opportunity for clinics to review their results for accuracy.

Minnesota’s 2008 health care reform act also required the Commissioner of Health to develop a standardized set of measures for assessing health care quality that can be used as the basis for both public reporting and incentive payments to physicians. Health plans must begin using the standardized quality measures—and only those measures—by January 1, 2010. For the standardized measure set contact MDH at health.reform@state.mn.us.

For tools and links visit www.MMAonline.net/measure.