The Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) is currently seeking public comment on its draft list of recommended measures for use in federal programs. Also available for public comment are draft versions of MAP’s setting-specific, programmatic reports. The MAP comment period for the recommended measures and reports runs from December 23, 2014 to January 13, 2015.

This work is the result of MAP’s review of 199 unique performance measures under consideration by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for potential use in 20 pay-for-performance and public reporting programs. These programs affect the healthcare of more than 50 million Americans enrolled in Medicare as well as the providers that deliver their care. The MAP recommendations reflect public and private sector input on the measures under consideration following an initial public comment period that garnered 350 comments (XLSX).

Measures included on the list cover preventive care and a number of conditions including diabetes, asthma, cancer, and surgery. The measures can be used across medical specialties, settings, and organizations, such as primary care and specialty clinics, hospitals, accountable care organizations, and home healthcare.

Established by the National Quality Forum in 2011, MAP is a forum of more than 150 healthcare leaders, federal liaisons and experts from nearly 90 private-sector organizations who are committed to improving healthcare quality. MAP comprises consumers, purchasers, labor, health plans, clinicians and providers, communities and states, suppliers, and representatives from seven federal agencies. Working together across multiple committees, MAP members ensure that the federal government receives comprehensive and thoughtful input on performance measures. MAP reviews measures through a transparent and deliberative two-month process that is open to the public.

In addition to annually reviewing measures that may be included in the rulemaking process for federal health programs, MAP also provides input to HHS on assessing the quality of care for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, including children and adults covered by Medicaid and the 10 million Americans enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.