CMS/Medicare: Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI): Important New Program Changes Make It Easier than Ever to Participate!

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced new options under the PQRI program that make it easier than ever to participate.

CMS is pleased to announce that a new PQRI law now allows CMS to offer:

· New reporting approaches that give you more options to successfully participate;

· New, alternate reporting periods to allow you to begin reporting on July 1, 2008, and still receive an incentive payment (1.5% of allowable charges for services provided from July 1 through December 31, 2008); and

· New options to submit quality measures data to CMS through a qualified, established clinical data registry, in which you may already be participating.

Also, for the 2008 reporting period, the new law removed the limit (cap) on your incentive.

How Can You Learn More?
· Join our Open Door Forum. Keep informed of developments of interest to you and other physicians and health care practitioners by subscribing to CMS’ Physicians, Nurses, and Allied Health Open Door Forum ListServ. The Forum will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. To sign up for the ListServ and receive PQRI updates and Forum meeting invitations by e-mail, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/23_ODF_PNAHP.asp on the CMS website.

· Attend our National Provider Conference Call with Q&A Session. CMS will host the second in a series of national provider conference calls on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. This toll-free call will take place from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Following the presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts. We are pleased to announce that CMS will be offering continuing educations units (CEUs) for eligible participants. The agenda and details on how to register for the call are forthcoming.

· Visit our website. For more information about these new PQRI program changes, including how you can participate, visit us at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website.