New!  Qualified Registries for 2008 PQRI.

CMS has posted the list of "qualified" registries that may submit quality measures information on behalf of eligible professionals who seek to earn an incentive payment using registries in 2008.  The list of qualified registries, their contact information and general information related to registry reporting in 2008 may be found by clicking on the "Reporting" link to the left, scroll down to the "Downloads" section of that page and download the document titled "Qualified Registries for 2008 PQRI Reporting."

New! 2007 PQRI Feedback Reports Are Available by TIN.  If you reported PQRI quality measures for 2007 (at least one valid quality data code), you may access your 2007 PQRI Feedback Report through the PQRI Portal at www.qualitynet.org/pqri.  However, you must first register for access through a CMS security system known as the Individual Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services (IACS) to receive an IACS user ID and Password which you will use to access your feedback report.

Determine if you should register in IACS under the "Individual Practitioner" role or as an "Organization".  Register as an "Organization" if you are a group practice which receives Medicare payments on behalf of its members, or if you are a solo eligible professional who will use one or more employee(s) to access the feedback reports.  Note that each "Organization" must designate the individual who will register in IACS on the Organization's behalf.  Up to two individuals will be able to access the feedback reports for each organization.  One 2007 PQRI feedback report will be prepared for each taxpayer identification number (TIN).  The group practice will be responsible for sharing National Provider Identifier (NPI) level information with the appropriate professionals within the group practice.  IACS Quick Reference Guides can be found by clicking on the link in the "Related Links Inside CMS" section below.

MLN articles that outline the steps for accessing the 2007 Feedback Reports can be found by clicking on the "2007 PQRI Educational Resources" link to the left.

Additional information about how to register and access the feedback reports through the PQRI Portal on the Quality Net website (www.qualitynet.org/pqri) are available on the "2007 PQRI General Information" link to the left.  A "2007 PQRI Feedback Report User Guide" is also available on the PQRI Portal.

A "Guide for Understanding the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Incentive Payment," is available as a downloadable file on the "2007 PQRI General Information" link at the left.

2009 Physician Fee Schedule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PFS NPRM).  In the Proposed Rule, we identified and proposed a subset of the proposed 2009 PQRI measures as measures that we would accept reporting through electronic health records (EHRs) in 2009. Asterisks were used to signify such measures in Tables 11 and 13 of the Proposed Rule (73 FR 38568, 38571). Asterisks were inadvertently left off of two measures that we had intended to propose as measures that we would accept reporting through EHRs in 2009 Measures #110 (Preventive Care and Screening: Influenza Immunization for Patients 50 Years Old) and #111 (Preventive Care and Screening: Pneumonia Vaccination for Patients 65 years and Older) in Table 11 (73 FR 38569). A correction notice for the Proposed Rule was issued on July 15 that included asterisks for Measures #110 and #111 so that the total number of measures proposed for EHR submission is seventeen measures rather than fifteen measures.  The notice can be viewed by clicking on the link in the "Related Links Outside CMS" section below.

New Reporting Options for 2008 PQRI.  There are new options for professionals to participate in PQRI in 2008 -- whether they submit quality measures information through claims or registries.  It is not too late for those who have not started reporting to begin participation.  To learn more, please see "2008 PQRI"below.

Registry Requirements.  CMS has posted the requirements a registry must meet to qualify to submit quality measures information on behalf of their eligible professionals who seek to earn an incentive bonus payment using registries in 2008. The requirements are summarized in the document "2008 PQRI Registry Requirements for Submission Under New Options" To download this document, please click on the "Reporting" link to the left, then scroll to the "Downloads" section of that page. This document also describes how a registry can self-nominate to qualify to submit on behalf of its participants for 2008.

PQRI Background.  The 2006 Tax Relief and Health Care Act (TRHCA) (P.L. 109-432) required the establishment of a physician quality reporting system, including an incentive payment for eligible professionals who satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries during the second half of 2007 (the 2007 reporting period). CMS named this program the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

For additional information about TRHCA PQRI requirements, click on the "Statute/Regulations/Program Instructions" link at left.

2008 PQRI.  The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) was enacted on December 29, 2007 (Pub. Law 110-173). MMSEA authorizes CMS to make PQRI incentive payments for satisfactorily reporting quality measures data in 2008.  For 2008, eligible professionals who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for services furnished during the reporting period, January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008, will earn an incentive payment of 1.5 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services furnished during that same period (the 2008 calendar year). This reporting period was established in the 2008 PFS Rule, as authorized by TRHCA.  

MMSEA also provides professionals greater flexibility for participating in the PQRI for 2008, by authorizing CMS to establish alternative reporting criteria and alternative reporting periods for the reporting of measures groups and for the submission of data on PQRI quality measures through clinical data registries.  CMS has posted a document that establishes the new alternative reporting criteria and periods:  "2008 PQRI Establishment of Alternative Reporting Periods and Reporting Criteria."  This document is available as a downloadable file on the "Statute/Regulations/ Program Instructions"link at left. 

Note that physicians and eligible professionals still have the opportunity to begin participating in the 2008 program, and should review the document for more information about the dates for which reporting can occur.

Financial incentives earned for 2008 reporting will be paid in mid-2009 from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) Trust Fund.  The 1.5% financial incentive and its funding source for 2008 are the same as for 2007. 

2008 PQRI consists of 119 quality measures, including 2 structural measures.  One structural measure conveys whether a professional has and uses electronic health records and the other electronic prescribing.  For further information on 2008 PQRI measures and detailed specifications, click on the "Measures/Codes" link in the left-hand column on this page.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted a letter to Medicare beneficiaries with important information about the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). The letter is from Medicare to the patient explaining what the program is, and the implications for the patient. Physicians may choose to provide a copy to their patients in support of their PQRI participation. To obtain a copy of the letter, see the "Related Links Inside CMS" section below.

Updated tools are available to assist professionals in 2008 PQRI reporting.  To access these tools, click on the "PQRI Tool Kit" link at left.

Please visit the Education section by clicking on the "Education" link at the left to view NEW and additional information on how to successfully participate in 2008 PQRI.

Downloads
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Related Links Inside CMS
All 2008 PQRI FAQS All 2008 Overview FAQS Letter to Medicare Beneficiaries Regarding PQRI [PDF, 1MB] Letter to Medicare Beneficiaries Regarding PQRI (Spanish Version) [PDF, 1MB]
Related Links Outside CMS
Federal Register [PDF 24 MB]