Data show improvements in quality of care through the Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Incentive Program, according to a CMS news release.
CMS issued a report, "2009 Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Experience Report," showing 119,804 physicians and other eligible professionals who reported data on quality measures received incentive payments from PQRS totaling more than $234 million, compared to $36 million in 2007, when the program began. The average bonus payments were $1,956 per eligible professional and $18,525 per practice.
CMS also paid 48,354 physicians and other eligible professionals $148 million under the ePrescribing Incentive Program. The average bonus payments were just over $3,000 per physician who successfully implemented electronic prescribing and $14,501 per practice.
The results from the PQRS showed for the 55 quality measures that have always been in the System, providers have increased the frequency for delivering recommended care by approximately 3.1 percent on average. For the 99 measures that were part of the System in 2008 and 2009, performance improved by approximately 10.6 percent on average.
Since 2007, participation in PQRS has grown approximately 50 percent every year on average. Beginning in 2015, however, providers who are able to participate in the System and do not will receive payment reductions from Medicare. Reductions for providers eligible for the ePrescribing Incentive Program who do not participate will begin in 2012.
Read the CMS release on results from the Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Incentive Program.
Read the "2009 Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Experience Report."
Read more coverage on PQRS and ePrescribing:
- PQRI, E-prescribing, EHR Incentives, ICD-10 — Don't Wait!
- Iowa Health System Launches First Statewide Electronic Prescribing System
CMS issued a report, "2009 Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Experience Report," showing 119,804 physicians and other eligible professionals who reported data on quality measures received incentive payments from PQRS totaling more than $234 million, compared to $36 million in 2007, when the program began. The average bonus payments were $1,956 per eligible professional and $18,525 per practice.
CMS also paid 48,354 physicians and other eligible professionals $148 million under the ePrescribing Incentive Program. The average bonus payments were just over $3,000 per physician who successfully implemented electronic prescribing and $14,501 per practice.
The results from the PQRS showed for the 55 quality measures that have always been in the System, providers have increased the frequency for delivering recommended care by approximately 3.1 percent on average. For the 99 measures that were part of the System in 2008 and 2009, performance improved by approximately 10.6 percent on average.
Since 2007, participation in PQRS has grown approximately 50 percent every year on average. Beginning in 2015, however, providers who are able to participate in the System and do not will receive payment reductions from Medicare. Reductions for providers eligible for the ePrescribing Incentive Program who do not participate will begin in 2012.
Read the CMS release on results from the Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Incentive Program.
Read the "2009 Physician Quality Reporting System and ePrescribing Experience Report."
Read more coverage on PQRS and ePrescribing:
- PQRI, E-prescribing, EHR Incentives, ICD-10 — Don't Wait!
- Iowa Health System Launches First Statewide Electronic Prescribing System
