CMS Releases Updates on Heart Failure CQMs

Meaningful use core objective #10 for Eligible Professionals is to report ambulatory clinical quality measures to CMS. EPs must report on 3 required core CQMs, and if the denominator of 1 or more of the required core measures is 0, then EPs are required to report results for up to 3 alternate core measures. EPs must also select 3 additional CQMs from a set of 38 CQMs (excluding the core/alternate core measures). It is acceptable to have a ‘0’ denominator provided the EP does not have an applicable population.

Last week CMS released updated information and guidence on this objective and one of the additional measures. There are three measures under the category of Heart Failure:

• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)
• Beta-Blocker Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)
• Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

CMS is suggesting any EP participating in the EHR Incentive program not select CQM NQF 0084, Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. Since there are other FDA-approved medications available for use as an anticoagulant, CMS suggests this measure not be selected as one of the measures reported for the CQM objective. If the EP is currently participating and using a certified system that only reports on nine CQMs and NQF 0084 is one of the measures the EP can continue to report the CQM in the 2011 and 2012 program years.

You can download CMS specification on all 44 clinical quality measures.