NHQI Overview

In order to provide additional information regarding the quality of care in nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted ten quality measures for nursing homes on its "Compare Nursing Homes in Your Area" website in November 2002. The Nursing Home Quality Initiative began with a six state pilot project in April 2002, in which Colorado was a participant. Starting in November of 2002, the initiative became national in scope, with quality measures disseminated for all states and territories. As of January 22, 2004, CMS posted a set of enhanced quality measures to CMS’ Compare Nursing Homes in Your Area website.

The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC) has entered a three-year contract cycle that began August 1, 2005. The focus during this cycle is to provide quality improvement activities such as collecting process of care data, improving care processes, and setting improvement targets for the project priority topics of physical restraints, pressure ulcers, depression, and chronic pain. CFMC will also assist nursing homes in reducing their turnover of certified nursing assistants, and utilizing information from staff and resident satisfaction surveys. Additionally, CFMC will work with nursing homes to change their cultures by employing person centered care principles to transform environments, organizational work, and care practices in nursing homes throughout Colorado.

The Quality Initiative is using a state partnership, collaborative (non-regulatory) approach for all stakeholders. The stakeholders include residents, families, nursing facilities, staff, trade associations, the state ombudsman, the state survey agency, the state Medicaid program, the QIO, and many others.

The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC), the Medicare quality improvement organization for Colorado, prepared this material under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS Policy.