Of the 74 measures released by the CMS, 21 apply to family medicine, said Dr. Rick Kellerman, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In an effort to make the process more user friendly, AAFP officials are strongly urging family physicians to report on the three diabetes measures available. This will make it easier for physicians to report because they can concentrate on a single diagnosis, Dr. Kellerman said.
The AAFP is developing a data collection sheet for physicians and another for the back office staff, he said. The academy also is developing tools to help physicians calculate their potential bonus payment under the program.
Because the CMS has selected measures that have been vetted by physician organizations and reflect current medical practice, most physicians should not have a problem with that aspect of the program, said Dr. Janet Wright, a cardiologist in Chico, Calif., and chair of the performance assessment task force of the American College of Cardiology.
The hurdle will be in changing the workflow in the office, she said. For some, the bonus payment will not be enough to offset the cost of making these administrative changes. The ACC is developing a special coding form that can be attached to the visit encounter form in an effort to streamline the process. In addition, participation in the program will help provide the CMS with information on the real-life experiences of cardiologists, Dr. Wright said.
More information on the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative is available online at www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI