Thank you for your questions and interest in the Hybrid HWR and HWM measures. We appreciate your patience as we investigated your inquiries.

1.  For the measurement year: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025: you are correct the electronic specifications list HICN or MBI as linking variables. However, CMS has updated the linking variables for this timeframe to the following:

·         CMS Certification Number (CCN);
·         National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Medicare Advantage patients;
·         Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI);
·         Inpatient Admission Date; and
·         Discharge Date.
 
This information is found in Appendix E of the 2024 Hybrid HWR Methodology Report and Appendix H of the 2024 Hybrid HWM Methodology Report available on QualityNet here: https://qualitynet.cms.gov/inpatient/measures/hybrid/methodology (under Hybrid Measure Development (original methodology reports).
 
2. Correct, for measurement year July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 (or prior reporting periods): if for some reason MBI is not available for the patient and HICN is submitted instead, that patient’s CCDE can still be matched to a claim. As an FYI: in 2024 Voluntary Reporting, only 1.4% of admissions had a reported HICN.  For the small number of cases submitted with HICN, CMS cross-referenced to MBI, which allowed CMS to account for these cases in 2024 voluntary reporting calculations.

3. For the measurement year: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026, you are correct HICN is no longer a required linking variable. During this timeframe, hospitals will need to submit the following linking variables:
·         CMS Certification Number (CCN);
·         National Provider Identifier (NPI) for MA patients;
·         Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI);
·         Inpatient Admission Date; and
·         Discharge Date.

The release notes for the version 5 electronic specifications include the following rationale for the changes to the linking variables: removing date of birth, sex, and Health Insurance Claim Number, given use of Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (negating need for these additional variables), and adding National Provider Identifier for Medicare Advantage patients. The release note tab can be found on the eCQI Resource Center here:
https://ecqi.healthit.gov/eh-cah?qt-tabs_eh=eh-cah-ecqms&globalyearfilter=2025&global_measure_group=3721.

ArielW34 Can we get an update on this please? Trying to understand the requirements around HIC number in advance of the start of the 2024-2025 measurement period. Thanks!