News: CMS touts rise in PQRS participation

Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) participation increased 36% from 2011 to 2012, according to a recent report from CMS,  with payments totaling $1.67 million. The PQRS encourages eligible professionals to report clinical quality measures by providing a series of payment incentives.

“Our physician and other clinician quality programs reached new records this year with over 430,000 professionals participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System, and over 340,000 e-prescribing,” said Patrick Conway, M.D., deputy Administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer at CMS, in a release.

“Clinicians are actively measuring and reporting on quality, and CMS is in the beginning stages of adding this information to the Physician Compare website, which can be viewed by patients. Measuring, transparently sharing, and improving quality performance is key to a better health system,” Conway said.