National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS)

News

ASHA Launches a New and Improved NOMS Data Collection and Reporting Tool
The release of ASHA's new web-based NOMS data collection instrument now makes the reporting of outcomes easier. Enhancements to the Adult NOMS tool include simplified data collection forms with optional interim reporting, a new goal setting feature with access to real-time national benchmarking data, and a built in G-code converter to assist with Medicare's claims-based reporting. This new tool is available to NOMS participants only. If your organization is interested in submitting data to ASHA's national registry and learning more about NOMS, read additional information below under the heading "What is NOMS?" The new Pre-Kindergarten data collection instrument will be coming soon. 

Eight of the 15 Adult NOMS Functional Communication Measures (FCM) are now in the Public Domain and can be used for Medicare's Claims-Based Reporting
In 2008, eight of the 15 Functional Communication Measures (FCM) [PDF] used in the Adult NOMS data collection tool were submitted to the National Quality Forum (NQF) for review. All eight were endorsed and subsequently became part of the public domain. While the FCMs from the Adult NOMS tool are part of the public domain and can be used freely for claims-based reporting, it is important to note that the FCMs are only one part of NOMS. To find out more about how NOMS and its FCMs relate to Medicare's claims-based outcome reporting using G-codes, view frequently asked questions related to NOMS and claims-based outcomes reporting.

ASHA's NOMS is also an Approved Registry for the CMS Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
PQRS is separate from the Medicare claims-based reporting initiative and is only for SLPs who directly bill Medicare Part B for the provision of services to stroke patients. As an approved registry, ASHA will submit NOMS data to CMS on behalf of eligible SLPs. View the participation criteria and frequently asked questions related to PQRS.

What Is NOMS?

ASHA's National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) is a voluntary data collection system developed to illustrate the value of speech-language pathology services provided to adults and children with communication and swallowing disorders. SLPs working in healthcare or school settings can register their organization in the NOMS Adult and/or NOMS Pre-Kindergarten Component and become a participating data collection site.

The key to NOMS is the use of ASHA's Functional Communication Measures (FCMs). FCMs are a series of disorder-specific, seven-point rating scales designed to describe the change in an individual's functional communication and/or swallowing ability over time. Based on an individual's treatment plan/IEP, FCMs are chosen and scored by a certified speech-language pathologist on admission and again at discharge from SLP services to depict the amount of change in communication and/or swallowing abilities after speech and language intervention and submitted to ASHA's national registry. In addition to scoring the FCMs, SLPs also provide basic information on patient/client demographics and intervention characteristics (e.g., SLP diagnosis, frequency/intensity of treatment).

In exchange for submitting data to ASHA's national registry, SLPs and their participating facility(s) and/or school(s) have access to their data benchmarked by treatment setting and diagnosis against the national data and system data if applicable. Facilities may also run customized analyses of their data, as well as national data, using our web-based reporting system.

Through the use of NOMS, we are now beginning to demonstrate the value of speech-language pathology services and provide our members the needed tools to address the challenging questions posed by policy makers, third party payers, administrators and consumers alike.

To find out more about the benefits of NOMS, frequently asked questions, and how to register your organization for data collection, see the "Information for Prospective Participants" in the resource box at the top of the page.

NOMS Fact Sheets

The fact sheets provide a snapshot of the data collected in each NOMS component (Adults in Health Care and Pre-Kindergarten).