New Palliative Care Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures Launch

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) has finalized two patient-reported outcomes measures set to improve the quality of care delivered to folks in hospice care, the organization announced.  The PROMs—designed as part of the Palliative Care Measures Project funded in part by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and in partnership with the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care and the RAND Corporation—have been accepted by the National Quality Forum following a 30-day appeals process. The two approved patient-reported outcomes performance measures (PRO-PMs) assess:

• How much patients felt heard and understood, and

• If patients got the help they wanted for their pain

Already, AAHPM said hospice and palliative care providers have been receptive to the PROMs. During a one-month public comment period, 200 different stakeholders indicated that they were likely to use the measures. Eighty-three percent said they were very or somewhat likely to use the “feeling heard and understood measure,” while another 72 percent stated they were somewhat or very likely to use the “receiving desired help for pain” measure. For more information click here.