PQRS has its roots in the quality improvement initiatives of 2005—and
earlier. In 2006, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act required the establishment
of a quality reporting system for physicians. In the following year, the program
was modified as a result of the SCHIP Extension Act. And, in 2011, the program changed
its name from Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) to PQRS, Physician Quality Reporting System.
The best way to understand the CMS campaign for clinicians to submit data
to PQRS is to consider the way in which the agency, itself, describes the reasons for its focus. As CMS has said, “Eligible professionals will have the opportunity to use participation in Physician Quality Reporting to improve the care of the patients they serve through the evidence-based measures that are based upon clinical guidelines. Participating is a way to prepare for future pay-for-performance programs.” The financial incentive is made available to reward those eligible professionals who participate early in the program.
Today, the Physician Quality Reporting System has expanded to include practitioners and therapists across a wide range of specialties, sub-specialties, modalities and settings. NetHealth is proud to work with an impressive cross-section of these groups—and to work in partnership with them on behalf of their members.
For additional information on the evolution of the PQRS program, visit CMS.
For additional information about NetHealth, visit us here at the NetHealth general site.
PQRS Details
2011 Physician Quality Reporting System Details
For your convenience, 1stAscent offers two options for data entry: you can start entering
information and chart data directly, returning at any time to your online account
to complete the process, OR you can download and print the data entry form, record patient chart information on a hard copy, and enter the information
all at once– just be sure to complete the data entry by February 15th, 2013.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Participants can delegate chart abstraction and other data entry to a staff member, but must sign the online attestation statement confirming that the data entered is accurate and complete.
Learn More about PQRS.