End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Initiative

The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Initiative promotes ongoing CMS strategies to improve the quality of care provided to ESRD patients. This initiative supports quality improvement efforts among providers and makes available quality information that will enable patients to participate in making health care decisions. Quality measures for dialysis facilities are available to consumers on Dialysis Facility Compare on the Medicare.gov website.

About the End-stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP)

CMS developed the ESRD QIP to be the nation's first pay-for-performance (also known as "value-based purchasing") quality incentive program as mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) section 153(c). This first-of-its-kind program provides the ESRD community with the opportunity to enhance the overall quality of care that ESRD patients receive as they battle this devastating disease.

ESRD QIP Rules and Regulations

CMS issued its final rule for the first year of the ESRD QIP, 2012, in December 2010.  More information about the ESRD QIP final rule is available in the "Related Links" section, below.

CMS issued its final rule for the second and third years of the ESRD QIP, 2013 and 2014, in November 2011. More information about the ESRD QIP final rules for 2013 and 2014 are available in the "Related Links" section, below.

CMS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for the fourth year of the ESRD QIP, 2015, in July 2012. The proposed rule will appear in the July 11, 2012, Federal Register. A link to the rule is available in the "Related Links" section below, as well as a fact sheet describing the proposed QIP provisions. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until Aug. 31, 2012, and will respond to comments in the final ESRD Prospective Payment System rule for CY 2013 to be issued by Nov. 1, 2012.

ESRD QIP Operational Updates

ESRD QIP Special Open Door Forum: Payment Year 2015 Proposed Rule (7-19-12)

On July 19, 2012, CMS will host a special Open Door Forum teleconference about the policy proposals CMS has made for the Payment Year 2015 ESRD QIP (see above). An invitation to the Forum, including call-in instructions, is available in the "Downloads" section, below. Also available below is a copy of the slides that accompany CMS' remarks during the call.

ESRD QIP Preview Period (7-15-12 through 8-15-12)

From July 15 through August 15, 2012, dialysis facilities will be able to preview their ESRD QIP Performance Score Reports and submit clarification questions about their scores. During this time, facilities can review the data CMS will use to determine whether payment reductions will apply to the facility when the ESRD QIP begins to affect dialysis payments in 2013. More information about the preview period will be part of CMS' June 21 Open Door Forum (see below).

ESRD QIP Special Open Door Forum: Reviewing Your Facility's PY 13 Performance Data (6-21-12)

On June 21, 2012, CMS hosted a special Open Door Forum teleconference about the steps dialysis facilities need to take to review the data CMS will use to evaluate their QIP performance in payment year 2013 (see above). An invitation to the Forum, including call-in instructions, is available in the "Downloads" section, below. Also available below is a copy of the slides that accompany CMS' remarks during the call.

2013 and 2014 Final Rule: ESRD QIP Special Open Door Forum (2-2-12)

On February 2, 2012, CMS hosted an Open Door Forum on the final rule for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP) for program years 2013 and 2014. The ODF provided an overview of changes to the ESRD QIP for PYs 2013/2014 and addressed the quality measures, scoring methodology, and payment implications of these changes. The slides CMS presented at the ESRD QIP Open Door Forum are available in the "Downloads" section, below.

ESRD 2012 QIP Data (12-15-11)

In December 2011, CMS issued data that reflects the performance of U.S. dialysis facilities under the ESRD QIP for Payment Year 2012. To access this data, review the ZIP file available in the "Downloads" section, below. Information for dialysis patients is also available on the Dialysis Facility Compare site on Medicare.gov.

ESRD QIP Quality Measures (5-4-11)

On May 4, 2011, CMS hosted a Special Listening Session to learn from stakeholders about what metrics would be most helpful in driving meaningful improvements in dialysis patient care. Areas of consideration included anemia management, mineral metabolism, and patient experiences of care (or patient satisfaction). The transcript and recording of this Special Listening Session are posted in the "Downloads" section, below.