This measure assesses the number of newborns that have been screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge. EHDI-1a uses the timing operator 'During' which requires both a start and end time for the hearing screen. If the data for both times is not present in the QRDA file, the measure engine does not process the case since there is data missing (one of the times). Files frequently contain only a start time, or only one time, as capturing an end time for this data is not clinically meaningful. If an end time is not sent, the data criterion is not met, resulting in cases not satisfying the measure logic. We believe changing the timing operator to ‘Starts During’ (i.e., only requiring a start time) meets the intent of the measure since the required attribute of “Pass” or “Refer” would not be available if the hearing screen were not completed. Therefore, we propose changing the ‘During' operator to 'Starts During' in the EHDI-1a measure during this year’s annual update.

​EHDI-1a uses the timing operator 'During' which requires both a start and end time for the hearing screen. If the data for both times is not present in the QRDA file, the measure engine does not process the case since there is data missing (one of the times). Files frequently contain only a start time, or only one time, as capturing an end time for this data is not clinically meaningful. If an end time is not sent, the data criterion is not met, resulting in cases not satisfying the measure logic. We believe changing the timing operator to ‘Starts During’ (i.e., only requiring a start time) meets the intent of the measure since the required attribute of “Pass” or “Refer” would not be available if the hearing screen were not completed. Therefore, we propose changing the ‘During' operator to 'Starts During' in the EHDI-1a measure during this year’s annual update. The CRP Public Comment period for this proposed change closed on 10/31/16. Three comments were received, all supportive of the proposed change.​