CMS proposes 29 new quality measures

The proposed rule setting the physician fee schedule and payment policies for Medicare Part B in 2014 includes 29 new quality measures that physicians must report on in 2014 when participating in the group practice reporting option of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS).

Physicians reporting as a group under PQRS will have to collect and report on the additional measures, with the quality scores reflected on the federal Physician Compare consumer-oriented website no earlier than 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said.

The proposed new measures cover medication reconciliation, hemoglobin and blood pressure control, multiple cardiac care best practices, and screening/follow-up for breast and colorectal cancer, adult weight, clinical depression, tobacco use, flu immunization and older adult vaccinations.

“By proposing to include on Physician Compare performance on these measures reported by participants under the GPRO through registries and EHRs, as well as the GPRO web interface, we continue to provide beneficiaries with a consistent set of measures over time,” CMS notes in the proposed rule, set for July 19 and available here. The comment period is the 60 days following publication.