Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)–2009 Update

In 2008, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the ABFM Performance in Practice Registry as one of 32 qualified registries that may submit PQRI data to CMS on behalf of its Diplomates. The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) authorized CMS to make PQRI incentive payments for satisfactory reporting of quality measures data in 2008. It also established alternative reporting periods and criteria for the reporting of measure groups and for the reporting of PQRI quality measures through an approved clinical data registry.

Three hundred eighty-two ABFM Diplomates participated in the first year of this initiative, which was made available in September. The ABFM will continue as a PQRI registry participant in 2009.

This year, physicians who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for 30 consecutive patients earn an incentive payment of 2.0% (up from 1.5% in 2008) of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services furnished during the reporting period, January 1, 2009-December 31, 2009 (the 2009 calendar year). Unlike last year, physicians will not have the option of a 6-month reporting period. For 2009, the only reporting period will be January 1-December 31, 2009. CMS approved financial incentives earned during 2009 reporting are scheduled to be paid in mid-2010 from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) Trust Fund.

In addition, a new measure, number 163, has been added to the Diabetes Mellitus measures group for 2009. All measures are listed below.

The module may be accessed without fee for use in participating in PQRI. However, Diplomates who are participating in MC-FP and elect to complete this module to receive Part IV credit are required to submit the appropriate MC-FP processing fee.

For questions regarding PQRI, MC-FP status, or for help with logging in to the Physician Portfolio, call the ABFM Support Center at 877-223-7437 or email at help{at}theabfm.org.

• © 2009 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.