The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMR/DD), a 2003 Real Choice Systems Change QA/QI in HCBS grantee, has begun to develop with initial stakeholder input, a Quality Framework to guide what data is collected. Ohio's QA/QI in HCBS grant application was written specifically to fund the design, development and implementation all aspects of a quality information management system.

This system, including both computer hardware and software, will be used to gather needed data, conduct analysis, and allow reporting to be used for remediation and quality improvement.

One of the CMS goals for the 2003 QA/QI grants is to improve the quality of care and services for people receiving HCB services. The framework provides the way to see how well outcomes are achieved for people and for the organizations that support them. Ohio's framework focuses on outcomes and indicators for 'quality services' within the system, organized by domain. Data will be collected for the indicators and outcomes identified, then synthesized for analysis and reporting to a variety of audiences. Discussions about quality of care and quality of services can then occur with diverse audiences, representing a wide range of interests, using common terms.