Click the plus sign (+) for each current technical expert panel (TEP) to learn how to get involved.

Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP) – Breast Cancer Screening Clinician Expert Workgroup

Project Title: Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP) – Breast Cancer Screening Clinician Expert Workgroup

Dates:

The Clinician Expert Workgroup (“workgroup”) nomination period opens on June 2, 2025, and closes on June 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Submit all nomination materials by the closing date.

Project Overview:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted Acumen, LLC (“Acumen”) to develop episode-based cost and value measures. The contract name is Physician Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP). The contract number is 75FCMC18D0015, Task Order 75FCMC24F0142. As the organizer of these workgroups, Acumen convenes groups of interested parties and experts who contribute direction and thoughtful input on their work and analysis. 

The purpose of this workgroup is to provide clinical input on each aspect of the specifications of the Breast Cancer Screening episode-based cost measure. This cost measure is being specified at the clinician group/clinician-level for potential use in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and this workgroup is separate from the similar Technical Expert Panel (TEP) CMS is convening for a facility-based breast cancer screening quality measure, OP-39 Re-Specification TEP (please see Notes below for more information). 

Seeking the Following Perspectives/Expertise:

We’re seeking individuals with differing perspectives and areas of expertise, such as 

• Clinicians with experience relevant to Breast Cancer Screening
• Specialties who provide care in the areas being measured, including: oncology, diagnostic radiology, internal medicine, family practice, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and others
• Familiarity with medical coding
• Expertise in performance measurement, quality improvement, or value-based care

Workgroup Expected Time Commitment:

Members will attend 3 meetings throughout 2025 and 2026. Meetings are anticipated to be 3-4 hours each. The meeting dates are as follows:

• Meeting #1 (July 2025): Members will review the history of the Breast Cancer Screening episode-based cost measure and discuss potential refinements to the draft measure components by providing clinical input and reviewing empirical analyses and other materials.
• Meeting #2 (September 2025): Members will provide clinical input on targeted components of the measure upon review of testing results for the measure as specified in consideration of their earlier input. The input provided during this meeting will help inform refinements to the measure prior to a national field test.
• Meeting #3 (March 2026): Workgroup members will review field testing feedback and empirical analyses to provide input on final refinements to the measure.

Below is a list of tasks expected of all workgroup members:

• Review preparatory materials shared ahead of each meeting and complete any pre-meeting survey, if applicable (estimated time between 2 and 4 hours)
• Attend and participate in all 3 of the meetings described above (3-4 hours each)
• Vote in a post-meeting survey (estimated time between 1 and 2 hours per meeting)

Next Steps:

Please read the Breast Cancer Screening Draft Workgroup Charter and complete the Workgroup Nomination Form. You may access these documents by clicking the title of each document:

• Breast Cancer Screening PCMP Clinician Expert Workgroup Nomination Form
  • Interested nominees are required to submit a completed nomination form. As part of this form, nominees are required to upload: (i) a letter of interest (not to exceed 2 pages) highlighting experience/knowledge relevant to the expertise described above and involvement in measure development, and (ii) a current curriculum vitae (CV) or summary of relevant experience. If you wish to nominate yourself or other individuals for consideration, please complete the form by June 23, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET.
• Draft Clinician Expert Workgroup Charter

Note: CMS is also convening a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for a facility-based breast cancer screening quality measure (OP-39 Re-Specification TEP). Interested parties who submit nominations for OP-39 Re-Specification TEP may also submit nominations to participate in this Clinician Expert Workgroup. Interested parties are not restricted to only participating in one expert panel. 

Please email pcmp-workgroup-support@acumenllc.com if you would like to receive: (i) a 508-compliant version of the nomination form for submission via email instead of the web-based form, (ii) additional information on the workgroup nomination and measure development processes (or other information about the project generally), or (iii) additional clarifications about the differences between Clinician Expert Workgroup and the OP-39 Re-Specification TEP.

Development, Reevaluation, and Implementation of Outpatient Outcome/Efficiency Measures

Project Title: Development, Reevaluation, and Implementation of Outpatient Outcome/Efficiency Measures

Dates:

The Technical Expert Panel (TEP) nomination period opens on May 14, 2025, and closes on June 17, 2025. Submit all nomination materials by the closing date.

Project Overview:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted with Acumen, LLC, its non-profit partner firm The SPHERE Institute, and subcontractors (hereafter jointly referred to as “Acumen”) to develop outcome/efficiency measures. The contract name is Development, Reevaluation, and Implementation of Outpatient Outcome/Efficiency Measures. The contract number is 75FCMC18D0015, Task Order (TO) No. 75FCMC24F0146. As the organizer of this TEP, Acumen convenes groups of stakeholders and experts who contribute direction and thoughtful input on their work and analysis.
Acumen is soliciting nominations for a TEP composed of stakeholders and experts to contribute direction and thoughtful input to re-specify the Breast Cancer Screening Recall Rate measure (OP-39) that is currently in use in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (HOQR) program. This measure was submitted for Consensus-Based Entity (CBE) endorsement during the Fall 2023 cycle but did not receive endorsement. The purpose of this TEP is to re-specify the OP-39 measure in order to address the limitations and weaknesses discussed during the endorsement cycle. The TEP will provide input on: (i) measure scoring methodologies that better reward strong performance, (ii) approaches to account for differences in patient sub-populations, and (iii) possible companion measures to provide hospitals with additional information they can use to improve their performance while avoiding potential unintended consequences.  
Seeking the Following Perspectives/Expertise:

We are seeking individuals with differing perspectives and areas of expertise, such as:

• Clinician healthcare delivery perspectives, including those of primary, radiology, and breast cancer care
• Clinician and provider payment policy
• Quality and cost measurement
• Pay-for-performance and quality improvement
• Research methodology, including risk adjustment
• Value-Based Purchasing
• Purchaser/insurer perspective
• Person and family perspective (i.e., patients, caregivers, and patient advocates)

TEP Expected Time Commitment:

TEP members will attend 1-2 virtual meetings in summer 2025 and possibly early 2026. Meetings are anticipated to be 2-4 hours each. The objectives of these meetings are as follows:

• Meeting #1: This meeting is meant for the TEP to provide expert input on the re-specification for OP-39 for all topics listed above in the Project Overview section.
• Meeting #2 (optional): This meeting is intended for reviewing testing results and discussing refinements to specifications and will be held if needed.

TEP meeting dates will be determined in consideration of factors such as the availability of TEP members and Acumen staff.
Below is a list of tasks expected of all TEP members:

• Review preparatory materials shared ahead of each meeting and complete any pre- or post-meeting survey, if applicable (estimated time between 1-2 hours)
• Attend and participate in all virtual meetings described above (estimated time between 2-4 hours each)

Next Steps:

Please read the TEP Charter and complete the TEP Nomination Form. You may access these documents by selecting the title of each document:

• TEP Nomination Form
  • Interested nominees are required to submit a completed nomination form. As part of this form, nominees are required to upload: (i) a letter of interest (not to exceed 2 pages) highlighting experience/knowledge relevant to the expertise described above and involvement in measure development, and (ii) a current curriculum vitae (CV) or summary of relevant experience. If you wish to nominate yourself or other individuals for consideration, please complete the form by June 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.
• Draft TEP Charter

Please email op-measures-tep-support@acumenllc.com if you would like to receive: (i) a 508-compliant version of the nomination form for submission via email instead of the web-based form, or (ii) additional information on the TEP nomination and measure development processes (or other information about the project generally).