What is MIPS or PQRS Measure?

The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) was a reporting program of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It gave eligible professionals (EPs) the opportunity to assess the quality of care they were providing to their patients, helping to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time. Now it is called as Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Quality Measures. Today we will learn about coding Measures (Measure 128, Preventive Care and Screening: Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening and Follow-Up Plan).

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) track of Medicare’s Quality Payment Program (QPP) includes four performance categories: quality, cost, improvement activities, and promoting interoperability (PI). The quality performance category requires clinicians to report on six measures, including at least one outcome measure. Since most family physicians will participate in MIPS and therefore are required to report quality measures, it is important they select measures appropriate for their practice needs and capabilities.

Measure specifications are detailed descriptions and instructions for each measure, and include definitions of the action/outcome required (numerator), population being measured (denominator), exceptions/exclusions to the measure, measure codes, and other details needed to correctly collect data and report the measure. Their are different Measures like Measure 128, 014, 021, 145, 146, 225 etc, which has to be coded only to specific CPT codes. We will learn specifically for each measure in detail. 

Remember: These Measures should be used only with Medicare Payer Encounters.

MIPS/PQRS Measure 128 Description

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a BMI documented during the current encounter or during the previous twelve months AND with a BMI outside of normal parameters, a follow-up plan is documented during the encounter or during the previous twelve months of the current encounter

There is no diagnosis associated with this measure. This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per performance period for patients seen during the performance period. This measure may be submitted by Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions described in the measure based on the services provided at the time of the qualifying visit and the measure-specific denominator coding. The BMI may be documented in the medical record of the provider or in outside medical records obtained by the provider. If the most recent documented BMI is outside of normal parameters, then a follow-up plan must be documented during the encounter or during the previous twelve months of the current encounter. The documented follow-up plan must be based on the most recent documented BMI outside of normal parameters, example: “Patient referred to nutrition counseling for BMI above or below normal parameters” (See Definitions for examples of follow-up plan treatments). If more than one BMI is submitted during the measurement period, the most recent BMI will be used to determine if the performance has been met. Review the exclusions and exceptions criteria to determine those patients that BMI measurement may not be appropriate or necessary.

Normal Parameters:

Age 18 years and older BMI ≥ 18.5 and < 25 kg/m²

Eligible Criteria for Measure 128:

All patients aged 18 and older on the date of the encounter with at least one eligible encounter during the measurement period

Patients aged ≥ 18 years on date of encounter

Patient encounter during the performance period (CPT or HCPCS): 90791, 90792, 90832, 90834, 90837, 96156, 96158, 97161, 97162, 97163, 97165, 97166, 97167, 97802, 97803, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99236, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309,99310, 99315, 99316, 99318, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99339, 99340, 99385*, 99386*, 99387*, 99395*, 99396*, 99397*, 99401*, 99402*, D7111, D7140, D7210, D7220, D7230, D7240, D7241, D7250, D7251, G0101, G0108, G0270, G0271, G0402, G0438, G0439, G0447, G0473

WITHOUT

Telehealth Modifier: GQ, GT, 95, POS 02

BMI not documented, documentation the patient is not eligible for BMI calculation: G8422

BMI is documented as being outside of normal limits, follow-up plan is not documented, documentation the patient is not eligible: G8938

Performance Met: BMI is documented within normal parameters and no follow-up plan is required (G8420)

Performance Met: BMI is documented as above normal parameters and a follow-up plan is documented (G8417)

Performance Met:BMI is documented as below normal parameters and a follow-up plan is documented (G8418)

Denominator Exception: BMI is documented as being outside of normal limits, follow-up plan is not completed for documented reason (G9716)

Performance Not Met: BMI not documented and no reason is given (G8421)