Medicare’s PQRI Remains Under Scrutiny

As Medicare’s 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) nears year-end, an AMA survey reveals that approximately 100 of the 400 respondents reported problems and dissatisfaction with the 2007 program that for the first time offered Medicare bonuses for successfully reporting quality measures.

An article on American Medical News said many doctors are still trying to determine what went wrong with the 2007 PQRI and many participants were unable to decipher the information they received. This comes at critical time since the 2009 reporting period begins Jan. 1, 2009. In an effort to attract more participants, the potential physician bonus will rise from 1.5 percent of all Medicare charges for the year to 2 percent.