PQRS, formerly known as the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, provides incentive payments to eligible professionals who satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered professional services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. The E-Prescribing Incentive Program is a separate federal initiative that pays eligible professionals incentives for becoming successful electronic prescribers.
Key findings from the CMS report on PQRS and e-Prescribing trends include the following:
• The PQRS and E-Prescribing Program collectively paid out more than $382 million in 2009 incentive payments.
• PQRS quality measures were expanded to include a broader set of specialties. Additional methods of reporting and data submission were also implemented, which is believed will promote participation.
• In 2009, 13 percent of eligible professionals participated in the E-Prescribing Incentive Program. By comparison, less than 1 percent of eligible professionals reported in the E-Prescribing Program under PQRS in 2008.
• Participation increased through 2009 in both the PQRS and E-Prescribing Incentive Programs. Preliminary counts for 2010 indicate further increases in participation in these initiatives.
Read the CMS report about trends in the PQRS and E-Prescribing Incentive Programs (pdf).
Read other coverage about PQRS and e-prescribing:
– PQRS, ePrescribing Data Show Improved Quality of Care
– Physician Quality Reporting System: No New Anesthesiology Measures for 2011
– Study: Post-operative Quality Recovery Scale Effectively Assesses Patient Recovery
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