The Opportunity

This project seeks to identify and endorse performance measures for accountability and quality improvement that specifically address conditions, treatments, interventions, or procedures relating to cancer. Twenty-one (21) NQF-endorsed measures that are due for maintenance will be re-evaluated against the most recent NQF measure evaluation criteria. Specific conditions and topics addressed by these endorsed measures include: breast cancer, colon cancer, chemotherapy, hematology, leukemia, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, melanoma diagnosis, symptom management; and end of life care. These maintenance measures will be reevaluated against the most recent NQF measure evaluation criteria along with newly submitted measures.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths.¹ In 2015, about 589,430 Americans are expected to die of cancer, or about 1,620 people per day.² Nearly 14.5 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2014.³ It is estimated that by January 1, 2024, the population of cancer survivors will increase to almost 19 million: 9.3 million males and 9.6 million females.⁴ The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates a total of $88.3 billion was spent on treatment of cancer in 2011, compared to $56.8 billion in 2001 (in 2011 dollars).⁵ Half ($43.8b) of this cost is for ambulatory visits, $31.0b is spent on hospital stays, $10.0b on prescription medications, and $2.9b on home health.⁶ In 2011, 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population received treatment for cancer, compared to 4.8 percent of the population in 2001.⁷

About the Project

As part of this endorsement maintenance project, NQF will solicit composite, outcome, and process measures proximal to desired outcomes, that are applicable to any healthcare setting. Measures that are specified for use with electronic health records (eMeasures) and measures that are harmonized across settings (e.g., outpatient and hospital) are preferred. Endorsement maintenance ensures the currency of NQF's portfolio of voluntary consensus standards, provides the opportunity to harmonize specifications.

A multi-stakeholder Standing Committee will be established to evaluate newly submitted measures and make recommendations for which measures should be endorsed as consensus standards. This Committee will review new performance measures for accountability and quality improvement that specifically address conditions, treatments, interventions, or procedures relating to various forms of cancer and provide recommendations regarding endorsement of these newly submitted measures. Additionally, the Committee will evaluate consensus standards previously endorsed by NQF under the maintenance process.

NQF Process

Measures will be considered for NQF endorsement as national voluntary consensus standards. Consensus on the recommendations developed through NQF’s formal Consensus Development Process (CDP, Version 1.9). This project involves the active participation of representatives from across the spectrum of healthcare stakeholders and will be guided by a Standing Committee.

Funding

This project is supported under a contract provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.

For information about the availability of auxiliary aids and services for NQF’s federally funded projects, please visit: http://www.medicare.gov/about-us/nondiscrimination/nondiscrimination-notice.html.

Related Information

• Cancer Endorsement Maintenance 2011
• National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Quality of Cancer Care Phase I
• National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Quality of Cancer Care Phase II
• Cancer Measure Set Value-Based Episodes of Care

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the project team at cancerem@qualityforum.org.

Notes

1. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2015. 
   
   
2. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2015. 
   
   
3. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2015.
   
   
4. American Cancer Society, Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures. 
   
   
5. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, June 2014. Statistical Brief #443: Trends in Use and Expenditures for Cancer Treatment among Adults 18 and Older, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2001 and 2011. http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st443/stat443.pdf
   
   
6. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, June 2014. Statistical Brief #443: Trends in Use and Expenditures for Cancer Treatment among Adults 18 and Older, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2001 and 2011. http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st443/stat443.pdf
   
   
7. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, June 2014. Statistical Brief #443: Trends in Use and Expenditures for Cancer Treatment among Adults 18 and Older, U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2001 and 2011. http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st443/stat443.pdf