Meaningful Use (MU) & Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs)

What core CQMs must eligible providers (EPs) report on?

EPs must also report on a total of six CQMs. There are three core measures and the provider may select three additional core measures from a choice of 38 alternative measures.

The three core measures include:¹

1. Blood pressure measurement (monitor for hypertension)
2. Preventive care and screening measure pair for:
   1. Tobacco use assessment,
   2. Tobacco cessation intervention
3. Adult weight screening and follow-up

The 38 alternative measures of CQMs include the following:²

1. Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1c Poor Control
2. Diabetes: Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Management and Control
3. Diabetes: Blood Pressure Management
4. Heart Failure (HF): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)
5. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Beta-Blocker Therapy for CAD Patients with Prior Myocardial Infarction (MI)
6. Pneumonia Vaccination Status for Older Adults
7. Breast Cancer Screening
8. Colorectal Cancer Screening
9. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Oral Antiplatelet Therapy Prescribed for Patients with CAD
10. Heart Failure (HF): Beta-Blocker Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)
11. Anti-depressant medication management:
    1. Effective Acute Phase Treatment
    2. Effective Continuation Phase Treatment
12. Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG): Optic Nerve Evaluation
13. Diabetic Retinopathy: Documentation of Presence or Absence of Macular Edema and Level of Severity of Retinopathy
14. Diabetic Retinopathy: Communication with the Physician Managing Ongoing Diabetes Care
15. Asthma Pharmacologic Therapy
16. Asthma Assessment
17. Appropriate Testing for Children with Pharyngitis
18. Oncology Breast Cancer: Hormonal Therapy for Stage IC-IIIC Estrogen Receptor/ Progesterone Receptor (ER/PR) Positive Breast Cancer
19. Oncology Colon Cancer: Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer Patients
20. Prostate Cancer: Avoidance of Overuse of Bone Scan for Staging Low Risk Prostate Cancer Patients
21. Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation, Medical Assistance:
    1. Advising Smokers and Tobacco Users to Quit
    2. Discussing Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Medications
    3. Discussing Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Strategies
22. Diabetes: Eye Exam
23. Diabetes: Urine Screening
24. Diabetes: Foot Exam
25. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Drug Therapy for Lowering LDL-Cholesterol
26. Heart Failure (HF): Warfarin Therapy for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
27. Ischemic Vascular Disease (IVD): Blood Pressure Management
28. Ischemic Vascular Disease (IVD): Use of Aspirin or another Antithrombotic
29. Initiation and Engagement of Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence Treatment:
    1. Initiation
    2. Engagement
30. Prenatal Care: Screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
31. Prenatal Care: Anti-D Immune Globulin
32. Controlling High Blood Pressure
33. Cervical Cancer Screening
34. Chlamydia Screening for Women
    
35. Use of Appropriate Medications for Asthma
36. Low Back Pain: Use of Imaging Studies
37. Ischemic Vascular Disease (IVD): Complete Lipid Panel and LDL Control
38. Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1c Control (<8.0%) ^3,4

For a complete listing of the clinical quality measures, their specifications and frequently asked questions please visit the presentation from the CMS site and view slides 33-38.⁵ There is some flexibility in choosing from the list so that EPs obtain reporting objectives based on what is best to implement in their practice and for their patients.