Global Malnutrition Composite Score for IQR
The new Global Malnutrition Composite Score quality measure will be available for 2024 hospital reporting.
On this page:
The Global Malnutrition Composite Score (GMCS) is a new quality measure that will be available for reporting in 2024 by hospitals participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program.
Stewarded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and developed by Avalere, the GMCS is the first nutrition-focused quality measure in any CMS payment program. It is also the first electronically-specified composite measure. Addressing malnutrition for hospitalized adults, its 4 components reflect the key steps in the inpatient malnutrition care workflow that are necessary to identify and manage malnutrition risk in a timely and effective manner (see full specification manual).
Implementing malnutrition quality improvement in the hospital setting is a necessary first step to prepare for reporting on this measure. The Quick Start Guide provides several resources to help hospitals plan, implement, and sustain related malnutrition tracking and improvement activities.
CMS’s Hospital IQR Program is a voluntary pay-for-reporting program. The Hospital IQR Program includes facility reporting of inpatient quality-of-care measures and is tied to a hospital’s Medicare Annual Payment Update (APU). To receive full payment for the care provided, hospitals are required to submit data on specific measures for health conditions common to Medicare patients that typically result in hospitalization. Hospitals that elect not to participate or that do not meet requirements do not receive the full APU. More information about IQR can be found on CMS’s website.
A number of benefits to patients and hospitals can result from implementing malnutrition QI programs and tracking and reporting on the GMCS. These include, but are not limited to:
More than 300 hospitals have participated in the MQii Learning Collaborative and their experiences have provided a breadth of key learnings, resources, and guidance for implementing care processes reflected by the GMCS.
The 4 components of the GMCS are guided by a workflow requiring a multidisciplinary care team, as shown below. Coordination of care within the hospital to follow this workflow can also lead to more comprehensive discharge planning to ensure patients are connected to necessary nutrition care and community resources to help avoid readmission to the hospital.
1) Start with QI and Confirm Optimal Care Processes Are in Place
2) Engage Your Leadership
3) Stay Informed About GMCS-Related Materials and Trainings
The MQii leadership team and other partners will provide additional trainings and resources (such as a technical implementation guide) later in 2023 to help you prepare for 2024 reporting.
Please email malnutritionquality@avalere.com to suggest we add any more resources to this webpage to make them available to other interested providers and stakeholders. If you have any questions about the content on this page or other aspects of the GMCS eCQM, please email malnutritionquality@avalere.com or quality@eatright.org.
The 2023 Learning Collaborative brings together leading hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to support acceleration and dissemination of malnutrition best practices for hospitalized patients. Learn more.
Reporting on the GMCS measure is a 2-step process. Learn more.
Resources to support you and your colleagues in caring for patients experiencing or at risk for malnutrition throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
Members Area