As noted above, the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a financial incentive for eligible professionals to participate in a voluntary quality reporting program. Eligible professionals who successfully report a designated set of quality measures on claims for specified dates of service may earn bonus payment of a percentage of total allowed charges for covered Medicare physician fee schedule services.

2011 PQRI

• Final PQRI Rules Reflect Input from the Society (11/10/2010) —The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their Final Rule for the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule on Tuesday, November 2 for public viewing. There is a 60-day comment period ending on January 3, 2011. The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), originally a voluntary program, is now permanent and known as Physician Quality Reporting System — beginning in 2015, eligible professionals who do not participate in the program will be penalized. Other modifications to the proposed rule included changes to physicians' reimbursement. The Society commented on all of these changes in order to ensure that the Final Rule would better conform to the needs of the Society members. Learn more »
• The Society Comments on the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (09/01/2010) — The 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule also includes changes to the Physicians Quality Reporting Program (PQRI) and implementation of various quality related provisions of the new health care reform law. The Society submitted a second set of comments detailing our recommendations on the proposed quality related changes. Learn more »
• Changes to the PQRI Program in 2011 Medicare Physician FeeSchedule Proposed Rule (MPFS) (06/25/2010) — In the proposed 2011 MPFS rule, CMS included significant policy changes to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). These included several provisions to the Patient Affordable Care Act, which would change the structure and function of the PQRI program. The Society's Health Policy staff has provided an analysis of these changes. Learn more »

2010 PQRI

• PQRI Highlights of 2010 MPFS Final Rule (11/04/2009) — The 2010 MPFS final rule included details about the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). There are several changes compared to the 2009 PQRI program, including the use of electronic health records to report some measures, the possibility for group practices (with 200 eligible professionals or more) to report measures as an entity, and that going forward, the only programs that CMS will consider adding to the measure are those that are endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Learn more »
• Society Comments on the 2010 PQRI Proposed Rule (09/02/2009) — On August 27, the Heart Rhythm Society submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) program addressing four topics: value of registries, timeline for transitioning from claims-based reporting, scope of quality reporting for EPs and the deficiencies in the PQRI program. Learn more »
• 2010 PQRI highlights (08/27/2009) — On July 1 CMS released their 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, which included details about the 2010 PQRI. There are several changes compared to the 2009 PQRI program, e.g., the use of electronic health records (EHR) to report some measures, the possibility for group practices (with 200 eligible professionals or more) to report measures as an entity, and that in future years only NQF-endorsed measures will be considered by CMS to be added to the program. Learn more »

2009 PQRI

• 2009 PQRI Worksheets Available (01/21/2009) — Effective January 1, 2009, electrophysiologists reporting quality measures through the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) for claim-based submissions must use the 2009 PQRI worksheets instead of the 2008 PQRI worksheets in order to be eligible for a 2 percent bonus payment. Learn more and download 2009 worksheets »
• 2009 PQRI: CMS Launches the E-Prescribing Incentive Program (11/24/2008) — To encourage the adoption of e-prescribing, Congress — under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) — authorized the creation of a new and separate program called “E-prescribing Incentive Program”, starting January 1, 2009. Eligible physicians who successfully report the e-prescribing quality measure will receive a 2 percent bonus payment. Learn more »

2008 PQRI

• CMS Announces "Qualified" Registries for PQRI Reporting (09/03/2008) — CMS released the names of registries that are "qualified" to submit quality measure data to CMS on behalf of their eligible professionals for 2008 PQRI. Eligible professionals who wish to participate in 2008 PQRI using one of the registry-based options should check with the specific registry to verify which quality measures, reporting periods, and options the registry intends to report to CMS on their behalf. Learn more »
• Update on the 2008 PQRI (04/30/2008) — On April 30th, CMS presented an update on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. CMS announced new program changes under the 2008 PQRI program that make it easier than ever for health care providers to participate. Learn more »
• Participating in CMS’ 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative: What you need to know (04/21/2008) — The Society provides a 2008 PQRI FAQ (PDF, 130K) to assist members in understanding the new reporting options (announced by CMS) to encourage physicians to report data on quality measure for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. 
• PQRI Tip Sheet (04/21/2008) — CMS provides a fact sheet (PDF, 160K) that gives a series of tips for providers to successfully submit their data.
• 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (01/15/2008) — Electrophysiologists participating in the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) should begin submitting appropriate 2008 Quality Data Codes on qualifying Part-B claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2008. Learn more »
• 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) (11/02/2007) — The MPFS final rule summarizes and responds to comments on PQRI content of the proposed rule and describes CMS' plans to begin feasibility testing of registry-based or electronic heart record-based reporting in 2008. Learn more »

2007 PQRI

• CMS To Publish 2007 PQRI Reports (06/10/2008) — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will make 2007 PQRI Final Feedback Reports available on a secure Web site in mid-July 2008. The reports, identified by a Taxpayer Identification Number, will include information on reporting rates, clinical performance, incentives earned by individual professionals, and more. CMS is providing information to help set-up an online account, ensuring that practices will be able access their reports as soon as available.  Learn more »
• Washington Report — 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Launched (06/20/2007) — Quality measures within the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) are adopted or endorsed by a consensus organization such as the AQA Alliance, the Physician Consortium, or National Quality Forum (NQF).The Society provides an FAQ to help electrophysiologists understand the program. Learn more »
• Quality Measures — PQRI Information from CMS — CMS provides Patient Information and Tips on Use of Modifiers with PQRI Quality Data Codes. Learn more »