CMS proposed new payment and quality reporting measures for 2026 on July 15.
Here are CMS’ four proposals for the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program included in the policy release:
1. Adoption of two new reporting measures to the ASCQR program: the Patient Understanding of Key Information Related to Recovery After a Facility-Based Outpatient Procedure or Surgery and the Patient Reported Outcome-Based Performance Measure (Information Transfer PRO-PM), with voluntary reporting beginning in 2027. This will be followed by mandatory reporting beginning in the 2029 reporting period and 2031 payment determination.
2. ASCs use the Hospital Quality Reporting system for data submission of PRO-PMs, including the proposed Information Transfer PRO-PM. The data submission process for this update was finalized for the total hip arthroplasty and/or total knee arthroplasty PRO-PM in 2024.
3. Removal of the following measures from the ASCQR program:
- COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Providers
- Facility Commitment to Health Equity
- Screening for Social Determinants of Health
- Screen Positive Rate for SDOH
4. Updating the ASCQR Program’s ECE Policy to explicitly include extensions as a type of extraordinary circumstances relief option, with exceptions.
