What New CMS Quality Measures Mean for International Nurses Entering the U.S. Healthcare System

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released 24 quality and efficiency measures under consideration for Medicare programs changes that will influence how hospitals and clinics are evaluated and reimbursed. For international nurses seeking U.S. nursing jobs, these measures offer a useful snapshot of what U.S. employers value in clinical practice.

What Is This CMS “Pre-Rulemaking” Process?

Each year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) uses a pre-rulemaking process to review potential new or revised quality measures for Medicare programs. As part of this process:

– CMS publishes a public list of quality and efficiency measures under consideration.

– Stakeholders hospitals, health systems, clinicians, professional organizations, and the public are invited to comment and provide feedback.

– For this round, the public comment period runs from December 16 to January 6.

These measures, if adopted, can influence both hospital reimbursement and how individual providers’ performance is evaluated. That makes them highly relevant for nurses employed in Medicare-participating hospitals, clinics, and dialysis centers.

Key Highlights of the CMS Measures

– Existing, but updated measures: 

  Eight measures are already in use but have major specification changes, meaning hospitals may adjust documentation, workflows, and reporting.

– Measures expanding across programs: 

  Two current measures may be applied to additional Medicare programs, potentially affecting more care settings.

– Digital-first data focus: 

  All measures rely on at least one digital data source, and all but one are fully digital reinforcing the importance of being comfortable with electronic health records (EHRs) and digital documentation.

– Chronic conditions and acute events: 

  Seven measures target chronic diseases and related acute events, including heart failure, diabetes, COPD, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, and sepsis.

– Patient safety priorities:

  Six measures focus on safety issues such as postoperative venous thromboembolism, antibiotic overuse, and sepsis outcomes.

– Person-centered care and coordination: 

  Measures also emphasize advance care planning, shared decision-making, and timely follow-up on abnormal cancer screenings areas where nursing communication is key.

– Hospital focus: 

  Many measures relate to the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, both tied to hospital performance and payment.

Examples of Measures Under Consideration

Some of the specific measures include:

– Excess days in acute care after hospitalization for heart failure, AMI, pneumonia, and diabetes

– Hospital 30-day, all-cause risk-standardized mortality rates following hospitalization for AMI, heart failure, COPD, pneumonia, CABG surgery

– Hospital 30-day, all-cause risk-standardized readmission rate following sepsis hospitalization

– Adult community-onset sepsis standardized mortality ratio and hospital sepsis program core elements score

– Dialysis measures such as hyperphosphatemia control and life-goal discussions

– Malnutrition care score and hospital harm postoperative VTE

– Emergency care access and timeliness

– Timely follow-up on abnormal breast and positive colorectal cancer screenings

– Antibiotic stewardship measures for uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia

Why This Matters for International Nurses

For international nurses preparing to practice in the U.S., these CMS quality measures highlight core expectations:

– Strong skills in chronic disease management, sepsis care, infection prevention, and postoperative safety

– Competence with EHR systems and digital quality reporting

– Ability to support patient-centered care, shared decision-making, and follow-up coordination

How NurseContact Helps

NurseContact is a digital marketplace that matches international nurses with U.S. employers and offers a streamlined hiring process. By understanding evolving CMS quality measures, we help:

– Match nurses with employers committed to quality and safety 

– Prepare candidates to meet U.S. clinical and documentation standards 

– Connect nurses with roles in hospitals, dialysis centers, and emergency care settings aligned with these quality priorities  If you’re an international nurse looking to work in the U.S., staying current with Medicare quality measures, hospital value-based care, and digital interoperability will position you as a strong candidate in a competitive market while NurseContact helps you find the right employer faster

Next Steps for International Nurses

If you’re planning a move to the U.S. healthcare system:

– Familiarize yourself with chronic disease management, sepsis protocols, antibiotic stewardship, and postoperative VTE prevention.

– Strengthen your skills with electronic health records and digital documentation, since CMS is increasingly focused on digital data sources.

– Consider how your current experience already aligns with these measures many international nurses bring strong acute care, dialysis, and chronic disease expertise that transfers directly to U.S. settings. And if you’re ready to explore opportunities in the U.S., NurseContact can help you connect with the right employer and navigate a streamlined path to your next role.