NCQA Responds to ONC USCDI+ Maternal Health Draft Dataset

August 12, 2024 · Maya Spieske

In a public comment letter submitted on July 22, NCQA expressed support for elements in the draft USCDI+ Maternal Health dataset to improve maternal health services and outcomes, and recommended changes to enhance the dataset’s completeness and specificity. 

What is the USCDI+ Maternal Health dataset?

The United States Core Data for Interoperability Plus (USCDI+) focuses on areas of health care requiring more detailed or specialized data. It was developed by ONC and federal partners to standardize and advance interoperable data elements beyond the core USCDI.  

The USCDI+ Maternal Health dataset provides a set of standardized data elements to enhance maternal health research. It covers various stages of maternal health care, including prenatal visits, delivery outcomes and postpartum care, to support better maternal health management and promote equitable health outcomes. 

How does the dataset support maternal health & birth equity?

By leveraging data from EHRs and other health systems, and establishing health IT standards for better data exchange, the USCDI+ Maternal Health dataset strengthens health care delivery, fuels research and informs policies to improve maternal health and elevate birth equity. 

Many USCDI+ Maternal Health data elements will be integral to high-priority measure concepts in our work with The Praxis Project, our partner on the Birth Equity Accountability through Measurement (BEAM) initiative. Over the next 5 years, we’ll develop, validate and implement an actionable set of quality measures that aim the health care system toward birth equity. 

NCQA’s recommendations for dataset improvements

 NCQA plans to utilize USCDI and USCDI+ datasets in our digital future. We want to maintain consistency and coordination across all USCDI+ datasets while also aligning with USCDI. 

NCQA offered the following recommendations for improved dataset completeness and specificity: 

• Medication Data Class. Enhance medication data elements to include “Medication Dispensed” and “Medication Administration.” This will ensure complete medication information is available to assess maternal health and prenatal/postpartum care quality. 

• Behavioral Health Data Class. Expand behavioral health data to include elements like “Instances of Self-Harm in the Last 30 Days” and “Instances of Suicidal Ideation in the Last 30 Days.” History of self-injury is vital for early suicide prevention and can be an indicator of mental health conditions or substance use disorders that require further evaluation and treatment.  

• Patient Demographics Data Class. Refine patient demographic data by aligning race and ethnicity data elements with OMB revisions to the Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 to improve the accuracy and utility of these data across federal standards and health information exchange frameworks, like FHIR®. 

• Future Considerations. Integrate data elements that capture psychological traumatic events in the stages of prenatal, labor/delivery and postpartum care, along with data on physical trauma and its significant, long-term effects.  

For more details, read the full comment letter. 

Earlier this year, NCQA also responded to ONC’s request for feedback on the USCDI+ Behavioral Health Draft Dataset. 

NCQA Public Policy regularly submits comment letters to federal and state entities on a range of health care topics. Find our most recent comment letters here.