More physicians are participating in “pay for reporting” programs that focus on using quality measures and electronic prescribing, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Its data also shows that physicians are increasingly turning to treatments that offer the best evidence of effectiveness.
In a report covering the results of the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting System and the ePrescribing Incentive Program, the agency’s most up-to-date data, CMS said that 119,804 physicians and 12,647 practices who reported data on quality measures to Medicare received a total $234 million compared with $36 million paid out in 2007, the first year of the program.
Under the e-prescribing program, CMS paid $148 million to 48,354 physicians in 2009, the first payment year for the program.
The quality reporting and e-prescribing programs are part of a broad effort to encourage providers to adopt practices that improve patient care.
Earlier this year, CMS launched the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, through which providers can quality for incentive payments for becoming meaningful users of certified electronic health records EHRs).
Physicians will also see data on how well they perform compared with their peers on quality measures as CMS’ Physician Compare Web site expands to include quality information by 2013.
Many of the participants in the quality reporting program practice in office settings, according Dr. Donald Berwick, CMS administrator.
“This is the care setting for which we have the least amount of data about quality of care,” he said in announcing the results April 19. The quality reporting and e-prescribing programs offer a means through which to assess the quality of care that patients receive in ambulatory settings, he added.
Information from the quality reporting program demonstrate growing rates in how often providers report that they are using evidence-based care practices. By collecting data about care practices, CMS can identify improvements in care for Medicare beneficiaries, and ultimately all Americans, Berwick said.
[See also: CMS to fine-tune technical guidelines for standards in stage 2.]
Providers have increased the frequency of using the recommended care by 10.6 percent based on 99 quality measures, according to the report.
Physicians most frequently reported measures that they had adopted and used EHRs to help manage patient care; worked with patients with diabetes to control blood sugar to lessen potential complications of the disease; and performed electrocardiograms in the emergency department to help diagnose patients with chest pain for a potential heart attack.
In 2009, physicians showed improvement over 2007 rates in stopping post-surgical antibiotics to prevent overmedication and the formation of potentially drug-resistant "superbugs," communicating with patients with diabetes about potentially damaging eye-related complications; and recommending beta-blocker drugs to patients with a specific form of heart failure.
This article was originally posted at http://ping.fm/87V49