Medicare's Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IRQ) Program

Introduction

• Medicare's Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program is a new age-friendly measure to take effect in 2025.

• participating hospitals will be required to have protocols in place
  • elicit patient goals of health care
  • medication management protocols
  • screening for frailty & cognitive impairment with intervention as indicated
  • assess social vulnerability (social isolation, caregiver stress, elder abuse)
  • designate a leader in delivery of age-friendly healthcare
• hospitals that do not participate will face significant reduction in annual Medicare payment

More general terms

• quality assurance (QA)