EXAM ACTUAL UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
HCQIP - ANSWER The CMS introduced the HCQIP initiative in 1992
HCQIP is the basis for Medicare's quality improvement efforts
HCQIP is a national program designed to foster partnerships among Quality Improvement
Organizations and members of the health care communities in which they work
HCQIP purpose - ANSWER national initiative to improve the quality of care to Medicare
beneficiaries by
HCQIP purpose - ANSWER To insure the quality of health care provided to its beneficiaries,
Medicare established the Health Care Quality Improvement Program (HCQIP) and designated a
QIO for each region. Specifically, HCQIP is designed to:
HCQIP purpose - ANSWER Assists health care providers in hospitals, physician offices, nursing
homes and home health agencies with their quality improvement efforts by providing technical
assistance, free training, serving as a resource and spreading clinically tested "best practice"
health care strategies.
HCQIP purpose - ANSWER Works with hospitals on quality data reporting requirements via
Quality Data Reporting
Educates Medicare beneficiaries on the importance of preventive health care, their health care
rights and responsibilities and offers guidance if there are questions about care received.
Responds to Medicare beneficiaries concerns about the quality of care received, and conducts
case reviews to determine if services provided are medically necessary, appropriate and meet
professionally recognized standards of care.
, Promote publicly reported quality of care information about Illinois health care providers in
order to educate beneficiaries and spur quality improvement efforts.
What are QIOs? - ANSWER CMS contracts with one organization in each region as well as the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to serve as that state/jurisdiction's
Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contractor.
What are QIOs? - ANSWER Group of health quality experts, clinicians & consumers organized to
improve the care delivered to patients with Medicare under contract with CMS.
QIO contracts are measured in 5 year cycles, with each cycle referenced as an ordinal "SOW."
What are QIOs? - ANSWER QIOs are private, mostly not-for-profit organizations, staffed by
professionals, who are trained to review medical care and help beneficiaries with complaints
about the quality of care and to implement improvements in the quality of care available
throughout the spectrum of care.
Why does CMS have QIOs? - ANSWER CMS relies on QIOs to improve the quality of health care
for all Medicare beneficiaries.
Furthermore, QIOs are required under Sections 1152-1154 of the Social Security Act.
CMS views the QIO Program as an important resource in its effort to improve quality and
efficiency of care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Throughout its history, the Program has been instrumental in advancing national efforts to
motivate providers in improving quality, and in measuring and improving outcomes of quality.
What do QIOs do? - ANSWER The QIO program is one of the largest federal programs dedicated
to improving quality healthcare to Medicare beneficiaries
Part of the DHHS National Quality Strategy to provider better care and better health at a lower
cost
Mission of the QIO program is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and quality of
services delivered