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2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)

The PQRI that was initiated July 1, 2007 has been funded by Congress through December 31, 2008.  This program provides a financial incentive of 1.5% on total allowed charges for Part B services for physicians who successfully report at least three designated quality measures 80% of the time during 2008. 

The 2008 PQRI consists of 119 quality measures that were either approved by the National Quality Forum or AQA.  Vascular surgeons can report on the following measures:

11. Stroke and Stroke Rehabilitation: Carotid Imaging Reports
20. Perioperative Care: Timing of Antibiotic Prophylaxis
21. Perioperative Care: Selection of Prophylactic Antibiotic
22. Perioperative Care: Discontinuation of Prophylactic Antibiotics
124.HIT: Adoption/Use of Health Information Technology
125.HIT: Adoption/Use of e-Prescribing

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a letter to Medicare beneficiaries with information about the PQRI, explaining what the program is and implications are for the patient.  Also, CMS reports that for 2007, 16% of physicians who were eligible to participate successfully reported at least 3 measures. 

SVS submitted a quality measure – Hemodialysis Vascular Access – Decision-making by Surgeon to Maximize Placement of Autogenous Arterial Venous Fistula – to the NQF for approval.  This measure has been approved for the 2009 PQRI. 

SVS members can access additional information about PQRI at www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri.   

Download: 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Eligible Professional Quality Measure