CMS Consensus-Based Entity (CBE) Endorsement and Maintenance
This section explains the measure steward’s/developer’s roles and responsibilities in relation to the CMS consensus-based entity’s (CBE's) measure endorsement and maintenance (E&M) processes. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract with a CBE regarding performance measurement. Battelle currently serves as the CMS CBE and uses its Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM)™ to incorporate feedback from interested parties to endorse measures fostering health care quality improvement and accountability. This information supplements the content found in the measure implementation and measure use, continuing evaluation, and maintenance sections of the CMS MMS Hub.
CMS CONSENSUS-BASED ENTITY
The CMS CBE endorses clinical quality and cost/resource use measures through a transparent, consensus-based process. The CMS CBE organizes measures for endorsement by five project topical areas, each having an evaluation committee, which oversees the portfolio of measures for the topic (see table). For more information regarding the project description, committee rosters, committee endorsement materials and proceedings, review each respective project page on the PQM website.
Project Topical Areas
| Project Title | Areas Covered | Example Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Prevention | Education, prevention, and screening related to health status and/or health risk. | |
| Initial Recognition and Management | Recognition and timely diagnosis of conditions, including diagnostic accuracy, monitoring of early signs and symptoms of disease/condition. | |
| Management of Acute Events, Chronic Disease, Surgery, Behavioral Health | Treatment of acute events, management of chronic disease, including structural or functional changes related to chronic disease or surgery, and related outcomes. | |
| Advanced Illness and Post-Acute Care | Advanced illness and/or end-stage disease management, palliative and hospice care, post-acute care, and home care. | |
| Cost and Efficiency | The amount or frequency of health services applied to a population or event (e.g., procedures, encounters). |
The CMS CBE endorses measures based on a standard set of measure evaluation criteria: Importance, Scientific Acceptability (i.e., reliability and validity), Feasibility, and Usability and Use. The Closing Care Gaps domain will remain optional for the Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 endorsement and maintenance cycles. Review most recent CMS CBE evaluation criteria for full details.
To the extent feasible, CMS uses CMS CBE-endorsed measures in CMS public reporting and value-based purchasing programs. However, measure stewards/developers may choose not to submit a measure to the CMS CBE for endorsement. CMS will consider non-endorsed measures if they meet necessary measure evaluation criteria.
Note: Under Section 1890A of the Social Security Act, CMS must use measures endorsed by the CMS CBE for public reporting and value-based purchasing programs. If no feasible and practical endorsed measure exists for a particular area or topic, CMS may use a non-endorsed measure, provided it gives due consideration to measures endorsed or adopted by the CMS CBE.