Project Title:

Physician-level Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP) - Breast Cancer Screening (Wave 7) Clinician Expert Workgroup

Note to Applicant/Nominee: For more information about the project and participant requirements, please read the material below, or download the Draft Workgroup Charter on the Current TEP Opportunities page.

Instructions:

Applicants/nominees must submit these documents with this completed form:

1. A letter of interest (not to exceed 2 pages) highlighting experience/knowledge relevant to the workgroup objectives and involvement in measure development.

• There’s no expectation that consumer/patient/family (caregiver) applicants/nominees have experience in measure development. These applicants can describe their interest in the topic.
  
  

2. A curriculum vitae (CV) or a summary of relevant experience (including publications) for a maximum of 10 pages.

• There’s no requirement for consumer/patient/family (caregiver) applicants/nominees to submit a CV.
  
  

Submit your response and materials via this form by June 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

If you have any questions, please contact the Acumen team at pcmp-workgroup-support@acumenllc.com.

NOTE: This nomination form is for a clinician/group-level breast cancer screening cost measure. CMS is also convening a Technical Expert Panel for respecification for a facility-based breast cancer screening quality measure, OP-39. Interested parties who submit nominations for the OP-39 quality measure respecification may also submit nominations to participate in this cost measure development Clinical Expert Workgroup and participation is not restricted to one group. For more information about the OP-39 breast cancer screening quality measure respecification TEP, please refer to the listing under the "Development, Reevaluation, and Implementation of Outpatient Outcome/Efficiency Measures project" on the Current TEP Opportunities page, or navigate directly to the OP-39 Quality Measure Respecification TEP Nomination Form.

Workgroup Expected Time Commitment and Dates:

Members will attend 3 virtual meetings throughout 2025 and 2026. Meetings are anticipated to be 3-4 hours each. The approximate meeting dates are as follows, pending project timelines and selected member availabilities:

• Meeting #1 (July 2025): Members will build out each component of the episode-based cost measure by providing clinical input and reviewing empirical analyses and other materials. 
• Meeting #2 (September 2025): Members will provide clinical input on targeted components of the measure upon review of testing results for the measure as specified in consideration of their earlier input. The input provided during this meeting will help inform refinements to the measure prior to a national field test.
• Meeting #3 (March 2026): Workgroup members will review field testing feedback and empirical analyses to provide input on final refinements to the measures.

Below is a list of tasks expected of all workgroup members:

• Review preparatory materials shared ahead of each meeting and complete any pre-meeting survey, if applicable (estimated time between 2 and 4 hours)
• Attend and participate in all 3 of the meetings described above (3-4 hours each)
• Vote in a post-meeting survey (estimated time between 1 and 2 hours per meeting)

Project Overview:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted Acumen, LLC (“Acumen”) to develop episode-based cost measures and value measures. The contract name is Physician-level Cost Measures and Patient Relationship Codes (PCMP). The contract number is 75FCMC18D0015, Task Order 75FCMC24F0142. As part of its measure development process, Acumen convenes groups of interested parties and experts who contribute direction and thoughtful input to the measure developer during measure development and maintenance.

Project Objectives:

The project’s overall objective is to develop episode-based cost measures and value measures suitable for use in the Quality Payment Program. Acumen convenes Clinician Expert Workgroup (“workgroups”) to provide input on the specifications of these measures through cycles or Waves of development. These workgroups are being convened as part of Wave 7 of development.  

Workgroup Objectives:

The objectives for the workgroup is to provide clinical input on each aspect of the specifications for the Breast Cancer Screening episode-based cost measure being developed as part of Wave 7 of cost measure development. This measure is being developed for intended use in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

Workgroup Requirements:

A workgroup of approximately 10-15 individuals will provide input to build out specifications for the Breast Cancer Screening episode-based cost measure. The workgroups will be composed of individuals with differing areas of expertise and perspectives, including:

• Clinicians with experience relevant to breast cancer screening
• Specialties who provide care in the areas being measured, including: oncology, diagnostic radiology, internal medicine, family practice, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and others
• Familiarity with medical coding
• Expertise in performance measurement, quality improvement, or value-based care

Scope of Responsibilities:

The role of the workgroups is to provide clinical input on the specifications for the episode-based cost measure. Members will review empirical testing, clinical practice guidelines, program needs and priorities, input from persons with lived experience, and other relevant information as part of their deliberations.

Guiding Principles:

Participation as a workgroup member is voluntary, and the measure developer records the participant’s input in the meeting minutes, which the measure developer will summarize in a report that they may disclose to the public. If a participant has chosen to disclose private, personal data, then related material and communications aren’t covered by patient-provider confidentiality. Patient/caregiver participants may elect to keep their names confidential in public documents. Workgroup organizers will answer any questions about confidentiality.

All potential workgroup members must disclose any significant financial interest or other relationships that may influence their perceptions or judgment. It’s unethical to conceal (or fail to disclose) conflicts of interest. However, there’s no intent for the disclosure requirement to prevent individuals with particular perspectives or strong points of view from serving on the workgroups. The intent of full disclosure is to inform the measure developer, other workgroup members, and CMS about the source of workgroup members’ perspectives and how that might affect discussions or recommendations.

The workgroups will make decisions on input by discussions facilitated by a workgroup chair. Where decisions are needed to provide direction to the measure development contractor, an online poll will be conducted.

Survey Contents

This survey contains questions on the following: 

• Page 1 (this page): Nomination Period Overview and Information
• Page 2: Past and Current Involvement
• Page 3: Nominee and Nominator Personal Contact Information 
• Page 4: Workgroup Interest
• Page 5: Nominee Expertise and Experience
• Page 6: Nominee Staff Liaison Contact Information (Optional)
• Page 7: Applicant/Nominee's Disclosure and and Document Upload
• Page 8: Nominee's Agreement