CMS responds to AHA concern that Hospital Compare update omitted CAH data

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services anticipates that the July update to the Hospital Compare website will include performance data reported voluntarily by critical access hospitals, the agency told AHA, quickly responding to an AHA letter expressing “deep disappointment” that the website’s April update failed to include most of the CAH data. “The fact that so many CAHs are engaged in voluntary quality reporting demonstrates their commitment to sharing information with the communities they serve, and to identifying opportunities to improve care,” wrote Nancy Foster, AHA vice president of quality and patient safety policy. “Moreover, many payers – including some Medicaid programs and private insurers – use Hospital Compare data reported by CAHs in their pay-for-performance programs. For these reasons, it is critical that CMS post voluntarily reported data in a timely fashion.” CMS said it regrets that the data were not posted in April and is taking steps to help ensure future updates of the data are timely.