Since January 1, 2010, Audiologists have had the opportunity to improve both the profession of audiology and quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries by participating in the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) program. The PQRS was formerly known as the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, or PQRI.
The Audiology Quality Consortium (AQC), a coalition of 10 audiology organizations including ADA, developed these measures based on the American Academy of Otolaryngologyâ Head and Neck Surgery (AAOâ HNS) guidelines for "Red Flagsâ Warning of Ear Disease" and FDA regulations (21 C.F.R. § 801.420(c)(2)) requiring referral when there are signs of ear disease. The AQC submitted eight "red flag" measures to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for consideration and three were chosen for 2010. These measures, which came within one year of audiologists becoming eligible to participate in PQRS, are designed to assist audiologists in documenting referral for warning signs. The three initial measures also directly benefit audiologists, rather than physicians who use audiology services. During the current 2012 reporting year, Audiologists are eligible to report on seven (7) measures. [See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.]
Audiologists were initially paid a 2% incentive in 2010 for successfully reporting on the three original measures. The incentive decreased to 1% in 2011 and to 0.5% incentive from 2012 through 2014. Starting in 2015, unsuccessful participants will have a 1.5% deduction in all Medicare reimbursement. The deduction will increase to a 2.0% deduction in 2016. The 2015 deductions result from unsuccessfully reporting claims in 2013 and the 2016 deductions result from unsuccessfully reporting claims in 2014. Medicare deductions can be averted by successfully reporting on measures by January 1, 2013, at the latest.
Taken from https://www.audiologist.org/publications20/reimbursement/pqrs
Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
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