On December 20, 2006 the President signed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA), which authorized the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish and implement a physician quality reporting system. In response to the mandate, CMS created the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

According to CMS, "The PQRI provides a financial incentive for eligible professionals to participate in a voluntary quality reporting program. Eligible professionals who successfully report a designated set of quality measures on claims for dates of service from July 1 to December 31, 2007, may earn a bonus payment, subject to a cap, of 1.5% of total allowed charges for covered Medicare physician fee schedule services."

Last July, CMS proposed a 2008 PQRI. This proposal was finalized in November 2007 as part of the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule.  The 2008 PQRI is similar to the 2007 PQRI in that eligible professionals who successfully report a designated set of quality measures on claims for dates of service from January 1 to December 31, 2008, may earn a bonus payment. The bonus payment will be around 1.5% for those who successfully report. 

As reported in our weekly e-newsletter, the Washington Watch Weekly, new measures have been added to the 2008 PQRI and others have been removed.  A complete list of the 2008 PQRI measures and measure specifications are listed below.

Recently, CMS announced that 2007 PQRI bonus payments would be mailed in mid-July. Only those physicains who successfully reported quality measures in 2007 will receive a bonus check.  Feedback reports will not be mailed with bonus payments; rather, they will be made available through CMS' IACS web site.  You must register with the IACS site to gain access and view your feedback report. Register at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MMAHelp/07_IACS.asp. Only large group practices who will have staff access reports for physicains should register at this time.  A more stream-lined system for solo physicians that plan to access their own reports will be made available shortly.

Members who have questions, or need guidance about any PQRI matter, are encouraged to call ASCRS Government Relations staff at 703-591-2220.  We are here to help you!