Request for Information (RFI): AHRQ Solicits Input on Metrics Currently in Use and Available for Research

Notice Number: NOT-HS-14-013

Key Dates
Release Date: March 7, 2014
Response Date: April 30, 2014

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Purpose

One major priority for ARHQ is to produce evidence that will increase the affordability, efficiency and quality of health care.  To this end AHRQ recently published a Special Emphasis Notice, 'AHRQ Announces Interest in Research on Healthcare Delivery System Affordability, Efficiency, and Quality' (see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-HS-14-005.html). In developing and funding research such as that described in the Notice, AHRQ could benefit from recent information about system performance metrics that are currently used by delivery systems and payers and that might prove useful. Hence AHRQ solicits public input any or all of the following questions:

  • What metrics are currently used by major delivery systems and by major payers to assess quality (including patient centered and culturally appropriate care), efficiency, and cost for their system as a whole and within systems?
  • Are these metrics (i.e., the constructs, not the values assigned to a specific entity) available for public posting (e.g. on the AHRQ website)? Are the procedures for constructing these metrics (e.g., underlying components or algorithms) available to the public?
  • How do delivery systems use current metrics in internal performance assessment and in reporting on their performance to payers, regulators, and the public at large?
  • How are system leaders, payers, and regulators seeking to improve existing measures, add to them, or consolidate measures?
  • How valid, rigorous, and useful are current metrics? (Consider, as appropriate utility for system leaders, managers, clinicians, payers, regulators, and patients.)
  • What measures are in use or are available for identifying overuse of low-value or even harmful forms of diagnosis and treatment?

Submitting a Response to AHRQ

All responses must be submitted via email to systemmetrics@ahrq.hhs.gov by April 30, 2014.
Please limit your response to a total of 800 words. You are not required to respond to each category, but please clearly indicate in your response which question(s) you are addressing. Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responders are free to address any or all of the categories listed above. The submitted information will be reviewed by AHRQ staff.

This request is for information is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government generally or the AHRQ specifically. AHRQ does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

AHRQ will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion and will not provide comments to any responder’s submission. However, responses to the RFI may be reflected in future solicitation(s). The information provided will be analyzed and may appear in reports. Respondents and delivery systems will not be identified in any published reports. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Geralyn Goins
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets (CDOM)
Telephone: 301-427-1419
Email: Geralyn.Goins@ahrq.hhs.gov