Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its approval today of 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) authorizes CMS to make PQRI incentive payments for satisfactory reporting of quality measures data in 2008. It also establishes 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.
As of September 4, 2008, ABFM Diplomates may use the Diabetes Module developed specifically
for this purpose by the ABFM to collect and submit data to the Registry on a set of either 30 or 15
consecutive patients with either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. Not all patients in these samples must be
Medicare patients, but at least two Medicare Part B beneficiaries must be included in the Diplomate’s sample.
For 2008, physicians who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for 30
consecutive patients will earn an incentive payment of 1.5 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services furnished during the reporting period, January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 (the 2008 calendar year). Alternatively, those physicians who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for 15 consecutive patients will earn an incentive payment of 1.5 percent of their total allowed charges for PFS covered professional services furnished during the reporting period, July 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008. CMS approved financial incentives earned for 2008 reporting are scheduled to be paid in mid-2009 from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) Trust Fund.
This 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 will be required to submit the appropriate MC-FP process fee.
This exciting new initiative will be available through the ABFM beginning September 4, 2008. For more
information on this new initiative, click here. 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@theabfm.org.