Kidney Care Quality Alliance
The Kidney Care Quality Alliance (KCQA) was created in 2005 as a quasi-independent sister organization to Kidney Care Partners (KCP). The singular purpose of KCQA is to develop dialysis-facility level performance measures specifically for use in federal end stage renal disease (ESRD) quality programs such as the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), Five-Star Program, and now the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) Model. Our mission is to develop dialysis facility-level performance measures that are evidence-based, empirically sound, and community-supported; that appropriately address social risk and health inequities; and that effectively meet the unique needs of dialysis patients, providers, other members of the kidney care community, and federal policymakers
KCQA’s successes in helping shape the ESRD quality agenda are well-documented; since its inception, we have received National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsement for seven of ten measures developed to date on topics ranging from hemodialysis vascular access, immunization, patient education, fluid management, and medication reconciliation. Other measures were used by NQF to materially refine and improve competing measures through its Consensus Development Process. A number of KCQA’s measures have now been formally incorporated into the QIP and Five-Star.
KCQA is guided by a Steering Committee and has a broad-based membership of leading stakeholders in kidney care.
2021-2022 Project
In May, KCQA launched a new project cycle to develop performance metrics in five clinical priority areas in which a need was identified by KCP members: home dialysis, transplant, anemia, bone mineral metabolism, and bloodstream infection. An Expert Workgroup will be convened for each priority area. The Steering Committee, Workgroup, and All-KCQA meeting summaries will be posted in the Meeting Summaries section below, when available.
2022 Measure Specifications
See draft specifications here.
Upcoming KCQA Meetings
Steering Committee Zoom Meeting: August 9, 2:30-4:30 pm ET
Anemia Management Work Group: August 17, 3:30-5:30 pm ET
Please contact Keyan Javadi at Health Management Associates (kjavadi@healthmanagement.com) if you have questions about these meetings.
2021-2022 Committees and Workgroups
2021-2022 Project Meeting Summaries
- Anemia Workgroup Meeting Summaries
- Steering Committee Meeting Summaries
- Home Dialysis Workgroup Meeting Summaries
- Transplant Workgroup Meeting Summaries
- All-KCQA Meeting Summaries
