CMS/Medicare: 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) ~ National Provider Call Announcement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host the fourth in a series of national provider conference calls on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

This call will provide an overview of the alternative reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactorily reporting quality measures for the 2008 PQRI as authorized by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) (P.L. 110-173) which was enacted on December 29, 2007.

MMSEA requires that for 2008 and 2009 the Secretary establish alternative reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactorily reporting groups of measures. It also requires that for 2008 and 2009 the Secretary establish alternative reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactorily reporting quality measures data through registries.

In 2008, eligible professionals may earn an incentive payment of 1.5 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Service covered professional services furnished during the respective alternative reporting periods based on data submitted via these mechanisms. While TRHCA established a cap on incentive payments for 2007, based on an average per measure payment amount, there is no cap on incentive payments under MMSEA for 2008 and 2009.

These provisions provide increased opportunities for eligible professionals to report PQRI quality measures and the possibility to earn incentive payments for satisfactory reporting.

A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted to the PQRI webpage at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI/02_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp on the CMS website for you to download prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenters, Dr. Michael Rapp, Dr. Daniel Green and Rachel Nelson.

Following the presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts.

Conference call details:

Date: June 18, 2008
Conference Title: 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative National Provider Call
Time: 3:30-5:00 EDT

In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. If you cannot attend the call, replay information is available below.

Registration will close at 3:30 p.m. EDT on June 17, 2008, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.

To register for the call participants need to go to http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/061808

Fill in all required data.

Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.

Click "Register".

You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.

For those of you who will be unable to attend, a replay option will be available shortly following the end of the call. This replay will be accessible from 5:30 p.m. EDT 6/18/2008 until 11:59 p.m. EDT 6/25/2008. The call in data for the replay is (800) 642-1687 and the passcode is 47474458.

If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com.