The timeline for Adding, Updating, and Removing Measures was addressed in the CMS-4182P final rule published April 2018. The final rule includes the timeline that CMS provided for adding a new measure to the Star Ratings.
' + 'Based on the example provided, a new measure that is PQA endorsed in May 2019 could potentially become a 2023 Display measure (using 2021 data), with first communication regarding the new measure in January 2020 in the 2021 Draft Call Letter.
The technical specifications and NDC lists used in the Star Ratings are made available on the Part C and D Performance Data page on the CMS website. On that page, the Stars Ratings data files, that contain the technical specification and NDC lists, can be downloaded for the most recent or prior years.
' + 'The NDC lists used for the current and prior years are available via the Acumen Patient Safety Analysis website. Only authorized users can access this website. The process is described in this memo.
The Patient Safety reports for a given calendar year are first published in the spring of that calendar year and updated monthly until the middle of the following calendar year. The reports are released at the end of each month and reflect pharmacy claims thru the end of the prior month. For example, the reports released in late September reflects pharmacy claims data thru the end of August.
' + 'When CMS passes the updated NDC lists to Acumen, they perform their own validation on them. The implementation of the updated NDC lists varies based upon the timing for the completion of their validation and release schedule for the reports. The updated NDC lists are made available on the Patient Safety website when the first reports incorporating them are released. Typically, this process takes 1-2 months.
' + 'When the Star Ratings and Display results are released in the fall, they use PQA's NDC lists from February of that year. For example, the NDC lists from February of 2018 were used for the 2019 Star Ratings released in October of 2018, which reflected CY2017 pharmacy claims.
" + 'The updated value sets are made available on November 1st each year. For example, the NDC lists available on November 1, 2018 will be used for the 2019 ratings. And, this list will include current NDCs from January 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018 and NDCs with obsolete dates of July 1, 2016 or after.
' + 'The target medications included in both lists are the same. However, the NDC lists are not identical because they are compiled on different dates and for different time periods. NDCs change over time, and drugs may be discontinued or approved.
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