Brief Description of Measure: CMS137: Initiation and Engagement of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Percentage of patients 13 years of age and older with a new substance use disorder (SUD) episode who received the following (Two rates are reported): a. Percentage of patients who initiated treatment, including either an intervention or medication for the treatment of SUD, within 14 days of the new SUD episode. b. Percentage of patients who engaged in ongoing treatment, including two additional interventions or short-term medications, or one long-term medication for the treatment of SUD, within 34 days of the initiation. Description of Issue: There is inconsistent usage of the terms, "short-term", "long-term", and "long-acting" in the measure header when referencing the specified medications. Since the term "long-acting" is the most accurate, clinically acceptable term in the field for referencing the specified medications (e.g., injections and subdermal implants), the measure steward proposes removing the terms "short-term" and "long-term” from the measure header.  

Proposed Solution: //Before: b. Percentage of patients who engaged in ongoing treatment, including two additional interventions or short-term medications, or one long-term medication for the treatment of SUD, within 34 days of the initiation. //After: b. Percentage of patients who engaged in ongoing treatment, including two additional interventions or medication treatment events for SUD, or one long-acting medication event for the treatment of SUD, within 34 days of the initiation. Rationale for Change: The term, "long-acting," is the accurate and clinically acceptable term in the field for referencing the specified medications.