• Health Policy and Government Relations
• Contact Congress - Take Legislative Action
• SVS Health Policy Committee Meets with Senators/Staff
• Priority Issues
• Imaging Cuts
• SAAAVE Act
• Physician Payment
• Pay For Performance (P4P)
• Fistula First Initiative
• Reimbursement
• Regulatory Issues
• Political Action Committee
• 111th Congress Committee Assignments
• SVS Position Statements

2009 Physician Reporting Quality Initiative (PQRI)

The PQRI that was initiated July 1, 2007 has been funded by Congress through December 31, 2010. The financial incentive for this program has been increased to 2 percent on total allowed charges for Part B services for physicians who “successfully” report at least three designated quality measures 80 percent of the time for both 2009 and 2010.

The 2009 PQRI consists of 186 quality measures (view the entire list) 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
158. Endarterectomy:  Use of Patch during Conventional Endarterectomy
172. Hemodialysis Vascular Access Decision-making by Surgeon to Maximize Placement of Autogenous Arterial Venous (AV) Fistula

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 three measures.  

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