Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program Overview
Background and Purpose
The Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program is a quality data reporting program implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for outpatient hospital services. Under this program, hospitals report data using standardized measures of care to receive the full annual update to their Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) payment rate, effective for payments beginning in calendar year (CY) 2009. The Hospital OQR Program is modeled on the current quality data reporting program for inpatient services, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.
Provider Support
FMQAI was selected by CMS as the Hospital OQR Program Support Contractor. FMQAI provides technical support, feedback, and other services to assist hospitals with quality data reporting under the Hospital OQR Program.
Summary of Hospital OQR Requirements
To meet Hospital OQR requirements and receive the full Annual Payment Update (APU) under the OPPS, hospitals must meet administrative, data collection and submission, and data validation requirements. Hospitals must submit data for 23 quality measures: 14 clinical performance measures; seven Imaging Efficiency Measures; and two Web-based Structural Measures. Participating hospitals agree that they will allow CMS to publicly report data for the quality measures (as stated in the current OPPS Final Rule).
For more information on the measures, see Measures and the Specifications Manual for Hospital Outpatient Department Quality Measures. Detailed requirements for hospitals participating in the Hospital OQR Program may be found in the Hospital OQR Reference Checklist.