CMS Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) cements the PQRI, but it only authorizes incentive payments through 2010.

Practices that meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for the reporting period January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 can earn an incentive payment of 2 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS)-covered professional services furnished during that period. For details on reporting requirements and options, see the CMS PQRI overview.

Although CMS will still accept claims-based quality reporting throughout 2009 and 2010, it intends to move toward the use of registries for quality reporting after 2010. Physicians who participate in CMS-approved registries can receive the incentive payment in 2009 if their patient data is submitted by February 26, 2010. Data may be submitted retrospectively.

In partnership with online CME provider CECity, the AAFP offers its members a discounted rate on a new Web-based registry and QI reporting tool, PQRIwizard. This program guides physicians and office staff through a simple, four-step process for PQRI reporting to help ensure that they qualify for the 2 percent payment incentive. To qualify for the incentive, registry data should be submitted through PQRIwizard by Feb. 1, 2010.

PQRIwizard -- AAFP members receive a $100 discount on PQRIwizard, a Web-based registry tool to help collect quality data for submission to CMS.