DDES INFO MEMO 2007-06

STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health and Family Services 
Division of Long Term Care 
Info Memo Series
Date: May 8, 2007

To: Listserv

For:  Nursing Homes 
Nursing Home Associations 
Board on Aging and Long Term Care 
Disability Rights Wisconsin

cc: Aging and Disability Resource Centers 
Area Administrators / Human Services Area Coordinators 
Area Agencies on Aging 
County Aging Units / Directors 
County COP Coordinators 
County Department of Community Program Directors 
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors 
County Departments of Social Services Directors 
County Waiver Coordinators 
County DD Coordinators 
Division of Health Care Financing 
Family Care CMO Directors 
Independent Living Centers 
MetaStart 
Division of Quality Assurance 
Office of Policy Initiatives and Budget 
Tribal Chairpersons

From: Sinikka Santala Administrator

Subject: UPDATE - Nursing Home Recognition for Performance (R4P) Quality Initiative

Introduction 

This memo informs all stakeholders of a change in course regarding the Department's 2007 Nursing Home Recognition for Performance (R4P) Quality Initiative, announced on December 8, 2006, via DDES Info Memo 2006-21.

Background and Explanation

Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS), remains committed to improving the quality of Wisconsin nursing homes by measuring, recognizing and rewarding performance. In keeping with this commitment, the Department has decided to delay implementation of its nursing home performance measurement and quality recognition effort in order to develop and fund a more robust and sophisticated quality measurement system, targeting the state's '09-'11 biennium. Therefore, the DHFS 2007 Nursing Home Recognition for Performance Quality Initiative has been withdrawn.

There are many reasons for this change in course. The science of quality measurement for nursing homes is maturing rapidly. It requires scientific, validated data capture and analysis the Department does not possess at this time.

We acknowledge and agree with all of the stakeholders that nursing home quality measurement must be of high integrity, valid and credible. There is much we can learn from the nursing home quality measurement work being done by CMS, multiple other states, and the private sector. It is our intention to collaborate with Wisconsin stakeholders to design a nursing home quality measurement system that has broad based support.

Summary

The Department's commitment to improving the quality of care and the quality of life for Wisconsin's nursing home residents is strong; a commitment we know we share with all of you, our partners in the complex undertaking of measuring performance and recognizing quality. We look forward to continuing our work with all of you in order to realize the benefits of the Department's nursing home quality initiative.

CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACT: 
Sue Schroeder, Quality Initiatives Advisor 
Division of Long Term Care 
Department of Health and Family Services 
608-266-6989 
schros@dhfs.state.wi.us 

MEMO WEB SITE: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/dsl_info/ 

Last Revised: October 24, 2008