CMS dissapoints by not improving 2009 brain imaging PQRI measures

CMS maintains same stroke imaging PQRI measures for 2009. Image Source: www.healthjockey.com

Included in the updated in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) specifications for 2009 quality measures are two stroke imaging measures—Measures 10 and 11—that have been reported by diagnostic radiologists since 2007.

Although it was expected that Measure 11, Carotid Imaging Reports, would be revised in 2009 to reflect an expansion of the measure denominator—not limited to patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack—CMS declined to use the updated version in 2009, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The original specifications for Measure 11 used in 2007 and 2008 will again be used in 2009. The ACR noted that the expanded version is likely to be used in 2010.

In addition to the stroke imaging measures, the ACR said that in 2009 there are two other measures potentially reportable by diagnostic radiologists: Recording of Fluoroscopy Time for Procedures Using Fluoroscopy (145) and Inappropriate Use of Bi-Rads 3 (146).

There are also seven measures that may be reported by interventional radiologists (no new measures for 2009), six for radiation oncologists (three new measures for 2009) and one for nuclear medicine—the first measure that nuclear medicine physicians can report.
The ACR has listed the measures.