CP39 - Uniform Data System (UDS) Test Cooperative: Testing changes to modernize UDS reporting for health centersPoster Type: Innovation

Category: Technological Solutions and Tools to Improve Care and Population Health Management

Issue or Challenge: In 2016, HRSA launched the Uniform Data System (UDS) Modernization Initiative to reduce health center reporting burden, improve data quality, and better measure health center program services and outcomes. The objective is to simplify collection and submission of data that accurately reflects quality care provided to high-risk populations. The challenge is to ensure potential changes to the UDS do not adversely affect the health centers.

The UDS Test Cooperative (UTC) was established to test potential UDS changes and determine feasibility and impact on health centers.

Description of Innovation: The UTC is a collaborative network of UDS stakeholders to (1) support early testing of potential changes to UDS reporting before broader implementation and (2) provide insight and recommendations about future improvements. By conducting tests with a representative sample of health centers and related stakeholders, the impacts, challenges and benefits of potential UDS changes can be better understood. Recommendations from the testing are provided to HRSA to consider for potential nationwide rollout.

The UTC is a forum for health centers and other stakeholders to provide input on the UDS and assessments of health center performance. The UTC was formed by first assembling a governance body comprised of thought leaders from health centers and healthcare networks that broadly represent the health center community. Other interested health centers and healthcare networks were then identified based on UTC-specified criteria to participate in the current tests. Membership and participation in the UTC will change over time to enable new representation of health centers and other stakeholders.

Finding solutions through these tests will benefit health centers and ultimately, further HRSA’s modernization goals. These recommended solutions will help reduce health center burden by streamlining clinical quality reporting, expanding representation of care delivery beyond traditional clinical settings, and improving transparency to enable insights on care costs and outcomes.

Impact or Result: Since its inception in March 2019, the UTC has concluded its first test on aligning HRSA’s clinical quality measures (CQMs) to CMS-specified CQMs. This test was the first step in identifying CQM differences and understanding burden and feasibility of aligning with CMS specifications.

In late February 2020, the UTC kicked off the next round of tests to provide a more comprehensive understanding of interdependent impacts and challenges. The findings from these tests will inform HRSA’s strategic direction for the UDS. These tests include defining and calculating CQM performance for routine patients and other types of patient visits; collecting and reporting UDS countable visits by using electronic standards; and aligning diagnoses and services in Table 6A into a common standard electronic representation. By making it easier to submit UDS data, health centers can focus more of their time on patient care and ensuring quality outcomes.

Replicating this Innovation: Much of the structure of the UTC can be leveraged by other organizations interested in establishing a forum to engage with stakeholders and gather feedback. In particular, the Steering Committee, the established UTC leadership body, provides an effective way to coordinate executive oversight, elicit input and guidance, and promote the success of the initiative across the stakeholder community broadly.

Author(s):

Daniel Duplantier, COR-II, Lead Public Health Analyst, HRSA

Kris Prendergast, UTC Convener, Healthcare Lead, Center for Transforming Health, MITRE Corporation