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 317, Preventive Care and Screening: Screening for High Blood Pressure and Follow-Up Documented).

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 317, 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 250 Description

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older seen during the submitting period who were screened for high blood pressure AND a recommended follow-up plan is documented based on the current blood pressure (BP) reading as indicated

This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per measurement period for patients seen during the measurement period. Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who submit the measure must perform the blood pressure screening at the time of a qualifying visit and may not obtain measurements from external sources.

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 and the measure-specific denominator coding. The intent of this measure is to screen patients for high blood pressure and provide recommended follow-up as indicated. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements are required for inclusion. If there are multiple blood pressures on the same date of service, use the most recent (last reading documented) as the representative blood pressure. The documented follow-up plan must be related to the current BP reading as indicated, example: “Patient referred to primary care provider for BP management”.

Eligible Criteria for Measure 317:

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

Patients aged ≥ 18 years

Patient encounter during the performance period (CPT or HCPCS): 90791, 90792, 92002, 92004, 92012, 92014, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99281, 99282, 99283, 99284, 99285, 99215, 99236, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99318, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99339, 99340, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99385*, 99386*, 99387*, 99395*, 99396*, 99397*, D7111, D7140, D7210, D7220, D7230, D7240, D7241, D7250, D7251, G0101, G0402, G0438, G0439

WITHOUT

Telehealth Modifier: GQ, GT, 95, POS 02

Patient not eligible due to active diagnosis of hypertension: G9744

Normal blood pressure reading documented, follow-up not required (G8783)

Pre-Hypertensive or Hypertensive blood pressure reading documented, AND the indicated follow-up is documented (G8950)

Documented reason for not screening or recommending a follow-up for high blood pressure (G9745).

Blood pressure reading not documented, reason not given (G8785)