Health Affairs Forefront: The Need For Geriatrics Measures

Health Affairs Forefront The Need For Geriatrics Measure 3

Health Affairs Forefront has published an article on "The Need For Geriatrics Measures," co-authored by JAHF's Rani Snyder and Terry Fulmer, calling on public support for two new measures related to age-friendly care for hospitalized older patients being considered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

In January 2023, CMS reviewed the set of measures recommended for inclusion in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. Two of those measures have major consequences for our growing number of older adults: a geriatrics surgery measure and a geriatrics hospital measure. Both measures are derived from three JAHF initiatives backed by evidence of outcomes beneficial to the health and well-being of older hospital patients: Age-Friendly Health Systems, Geriatric Surgery Verification, and Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation. These programs have shown reductions in hospital costs, length of stay, and decreased risk of loss of independence and major complications for older adults.

The Health Affairs Forefront commentary explains the measures, why they matter, the evidence behind them and the next steps CMS needs to take.

The measures were included in the CMS fiscal year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule. Public comment was open through June 9, 2023.

Read the commentary.
Learn more about Age-Friendly Health Systems, Geriatric Surgery Verification and Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation.
Learn about JAHF's support of collaboration among these three initiatives.