An introduction from Dennis Wagner, Director, and Jeneen Iwugo, Deputy Director, Quality Improvement and Innovation Group (QIIG), Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program structure follows a functional model with two types of QIOs: Quality Innovation Network-QIOs (QIN-QIOs) and Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-QIOs (BFCC-QIOs). Fourteen regional QIN-QIOs work with providers, community partners, beneficiaries and caregivers on multiple data-driven quality improvement initiatives to improve patient safety; reduce harm; engage beneficiaries, families and caregivers; improve care and reduce health care disparities. Two BFCC-QIOs manage all beneficiary complaints and appeals across the nation, ensuring that beneficiaries are treated fairly and helping them exercise their right to high-quality health care across care settings.
Read Full Overview →In 2017, QIN-QIOs were especially successful in performing meaningful and impactful work in patient and family engagement, and achieving results in the areas of medication safety, immunizations, care coordination, diabetes care and nursing home care. BFCC-QIOs exceeded established targets for the timely review of beneficiary complaints and continued to implement resolutions that fostered beneficiary and provider engagement.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formally launched the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in January 2017.
The National Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative, led by CMS and QIN-QIOs, is spreading quality and performance improvement practices.
In April, CMS held a special session to help inform the priorities of the next phase of the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program.
The Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC) launched phase two of the Campaign for Meds Management.
The BFCC-QIOs kicked off the Beneficiary Healthcare Navigation Program in September 2017.
In October 2017, CMS awarded 14, two-year Special Innovation Projects (SIPs) to 11 QIN-QIOs.
In 2017, the QIO Program implemented Beneficiary & Family Advisory Councils (BFACs) across all segments of the Program.
CMS held its largest CMS Quality Conference to date, with nearly 2,600 attendees.
In the year ahead, the QIO Program will focus on achieving its top objectives: aligning its work with important national health care priorities and continuing to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. Following are some of the pressing health care priorities that Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) will be helping address at the community level in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders.
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