By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthy hobbies
    The Importance of Hobbies for Our Health
    September 15, 2024
    Whiplash
    Understanding Whiplash: A Guide For Healthcare Practitioners
    January 22, 2025
    research chemicals and health care
    Chemical Research Drive Medical Breakthroughs
    June 14, 2023
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Hospitals and Providers Using NHIN (Nationwide Health Information Network)
    March 11, 2012
    Image
    Physicians With High Productivity And Satisfaction Scores Employ Strong Patient-Centered Communication Skills
    May 7, 2013
    My Solution to the Healthcare Crisis
    March 31, 2012
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How to Improve Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Scores
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > How to Improve Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Scores
Hospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

How to Improve Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Scores

Principle Healthcare
Principle Healthcare
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
  •  
  •  

 

Poised at the nexus of Supreme Court oral arguments for health care reform constitutionality and the close of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) nine month performance period (July 2011-March 2012), hospitals eagerly anticipate news regarding their FY2013 Medicare reimbursement.  Beginning October 2012, CMS will reduce base operating diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment to all hospitals reimbursed under the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) model by 1 percent, with the amount gradually increasing to 2 percent by FY 2017.  Monies withheld will be used to create an incentive fund for future hospital performance based payment relative to identified domains of quality measures. Final determination of payment from the 1 percent withholding will be calculated as a linear function based on all participating entities, meaning that organizations must demonstrate continuous quality improvement in order not to fall behind their peers.

As outlined in the FY 2013HVBP final rule, an overall performance score will be calculated by assessing achievement and improvement for an institution’s Clinical Process of Care Measures and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey feedback.  In determining the final score, CMS will weigh the HCAHPS results at 30 percent and the Clinical Care Core Measures results at 70 percent.

More Read

Rural Recipients of Care Access Under ACA Stand to Benefit Greatly
GOP Presidential Candidate’s Life Insurance Scheme Provides Fodder for Opponents
Simplified Access to Patient Data Saves Clinicians Time
Are You Health Literate?
OSHA Regulations Keep Employees Safe and Healthy

For each of the 17 measures (12 identified for FY2013 shown below) included under the Clinical Process of Care Measures, CMS will use hospital data to calculate a performance score ranging from 0 to 10. A hospital earns an achievement score based on how well it did relative to a lower threshold and upper benchmark (generally 1.0 or 100%) calculated from all hospitals’ previous baseline scores, and an improvement score based on whether it beat its own performance during the baseline period. CMS uses the higher of these two scores for its official tally. In theory, a hospital could receive all 10 points if it beats the achievement benchmark, or 0 if it fails to meet the achievement threshold or better its own previous score.

Measure IDClinical Process of Care Measure DescriptionThreshold
AMI-7aFibrinolytic Therapy Received Within 30 Minutes of Hospital Arrival0.6548
AMI-8aPrimary PCI Received Within 90 Minutes of Hospital Arrival0.9186
HF-1Discharge Instructions0.9077
PN-3bBlood Cultures Performed in the Emergency Department Prior to Antibiotic Received in Hospital0.9643
PN-6Initial Antibiotic Selection for CAP in Immunocompetent Patient0.9277
SCIP-Inf-1Prophylactic Antibiotic Received Within One Hour Prior to Surgical Incision0.9735
SCIP-Inf-2Prophylactic Antibiotic Selection for Surgical Patients0.9766
SCIP-Inf-3Prophylactic Antibiotics Discontinued Within 24 Hours After Surgery End Time0.9507
SCIP-Inf-4Cardiac Surgery Patients with Controlled 6AM Postoperative Serum Glucose0.9428
SCIP-VTE1Surgery Patients with Recommended Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Ordered0.95
SCIP-VTE2Surgery Patients Receiving VTP w/I 24Hours Prior to Surgery to 24 Hours After Surgery0.9307
SCIP-Card-2Surgery Patients on a Beta Blocker Prior to Arrival Receiving a BB During the Perioperative Period0.9399

Scoring remains relatively the same for the eight measures based on the HCAHPS patient surveys. Hospitals, however, also can earn up to 20 consistency points based on how well their single lowest score stacks up to the competition. Hospitals will receive a percentage grade based on how many points they scored out of the possible total.  CMS will post all scores on its Hospital Compare site and use the final performance score to determine the value-based incentive payment.

DomainQuestionMin50th %Benchmk
NursingNurse courtesy and respect38.9875.1884.7
CommunicationNurse listens carefully   
 Nurse explanations are clear   
DoctorDoctor courtesy and respect51.5179.4288.95
CommunicationDoctor listens carefully   
 Doctor explanations are clear   
StaffDid you need help in getting to bathroom?30.2561.8277.69
ResponsivenessStaff helped with bathroom needs   
 Call button answered   
PainDid you need medicine for pain?34.7668.7577.9
ManagementPain well controlled   
 Staff helped patient with pain   
MedicationWere you given any new meds?29.2759.2870.42
InstructionsStaff explained medicine   
 Staff clearly described side effects   
DischargeDid you go to a home or another facility?50.4781.9389.09
InformationStaff discussed help needed post discharge?   
 Written symptom/health info provided   
Cleanliness and QuietnessArea around room quiet at night36.8862.877.64
HospitalRoom and bathroom kept clean   
Overall RatingHospital rating question29.3266.0282.52

While CMS’ Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Final Rule refers to Medicare patients only, private payers are quickly advancing towards a quality based reimbursement model as well.  As the bar continues to be raised in pursuit of improved quality and better value, how will your organization prepare for this challenge?  With less time to address the much more speculative HCHAPHS scores, does this provide the greatest area for improvement?  Since many enterprising organizations are currently engaged in this process, will innovative technology coupled with collaborative continuous quality improvement keep your institution in the race?

Principle Healthcare Associates is an expert resource and dedicated advocate for Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Physician and Healthcare Executive job seekers. With many years of recruiting experience, we deliver strategies to help clients identify diamonds in the rough and candidates that stand head and shoulders above the competition.

 

*Graphic courtesy of Triple Tree Research

 

TAGGED:hospital qualityvalue-based purchasing
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025
engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Healthcare Emergency: Shortage of Nurses Will Impact Patient Care [INFOGRAPHIC]

August 12, 2013
bacteria
Public Health

Are We Returning to a Life Before Penicillin?

October 8, 2014
shutterstock_160789127
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Obamacare: The Next Wave

January 28, 2014

Healthcare Predictions for 2013

January 7, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?