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Heart Failure (HF): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) or Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)FHIR

Measure Information

Compare Versions of: "Heart Failure (HF): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) or Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)FHIR"

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Table Options
Measure Information 2026 Performance Period
Title Heart Failure (HF): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) or Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)FHIR
CMS eCQM ID CMS135FHIR
Measure Steward American Heart Association
Description

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with a current or prior left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <=40% who were prescribed or already taking ACE inhibitor or ARB or ARNI therapy during the measurement period

Stratification *See CMS135FHIR-v1.0.000-FHIR.html
Risk Adjustment *See CMS135FHIR-v1.0.000-FHIR.html
Rationale

Use of ACE inhibitor, ARB, or ARNI therapy has been associated with improved outcomes in patients with reduced LVEF. Long-term therapy with ARBs have also been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality, especially in ACE inhibitor--intolerant patients. More recently, ARNI therapy has also been shown to more significantly improve outcomes, such that the newest guidelines recommend replacement of ACE inhibitors or ARBs with ARNI therapy in eligible patients. However, despite the benefits of these drugs, use of ACE inhibitor, ARB, or ARNI remains suboptimal.

Clinical Recommendation Statement

In patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II to III symptoms, the use of ARNI is recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality (Class I, Level of Evidence A) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). In patients with previous or current symptoms of chronic HFrEF, the use of angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) is beneficial to reduce morbidity and mortality when the use of ARNI is not feasible (Class I, Level of Evidence A) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). In patients with previous or current symptoms of chronic HFrEF who are intolerant to ACEi because of cough or angioedema and when the use of ARNI is not feasible, the use of ARB is recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality (Class I, Level of Evidence A) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). In patients with chronic symptomatic HFrEF NYHA class II or III who tolerate an ACEi or ARB, replacement by an ARNI is recommended to further reduce morbidity and mortality (Class I, Level of Evidence B-R) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). ARNI should not be administered concomitantly with ACEi or within 36 hours of the last dose of an ACEi (Class II: Harm, Level of Evidence B-R) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). ARNI should not be administered to patients with any history of angioedema (Class III: Harm, Level of Evidence C-LD) (Heidenreich et al., 2022). ACEi should not be administered to patients with any history of angioedema (Class III: Harm, Level of Evidence C-LD) (Heidenreich et al., 2022).

Drugs Commonly Used for Stage C HFrEF (abbreviated to align with focus of measure to include only ACE inhibitors, ARB and ARNI therapy)

DrugInitial Daily Dose(s)Target Dose(s)Mean Doses Achieved in Clinical Trials
ACEi


Captopril6.25 mg 3 times50 mg 3 times122.7 mg total daily
Enalapril2.5 mg twice10 to 20 mg twice16.6 mg total daily
Fosinopril5 to 10 mg once40 mg onceN/A
Lisinopril2.5 to 5 mg once20 to 40 mg once32.5 to 35.0 mg total daily
Perindopril2 mg once8 to 16 mg onceN/A
Quinapril5 mg twice20 mg twiceN/A
Ramipril1.25 to 2.5 mg once10 mg onceN/A
Trandolapril1 mg once4 mg onceN/A
ARB


Candesartan4 to 8 mg once32 mg once24 mg total daily
Losartan25 to 50 mg once50 to 150 mg once129 mg total daily
Valsartan20 to 40 mg twice160 mg twice254 mg total daily
ARNI


Sacubitril-valsartan49/51 mg twice (sacubitril/valsartan)97/103 mg twice (sacubitril/valsartan)182/193 mg (sacubitril/valsartan) total daily (therapy may be initiated at 24/26 mg twice)
Definition *See CMS135FHIR-v1.0.000-FHIR.html
Guidance

This eCQM is to be reported as patient-based. To satisfy this measure, it must be reported for all heart failure patients at least once during the measurement period.

The requirement of two or more visits is used to establish that the eligible clinician has an existing relationship with the patient.

A range value should satisfy the logic requirement for 'Ejection Fraction' as long as the ranged observation value clearly meets the less than or equal to 40% threshold noted in the denominator logic. A range that is greater than 40% would not meet the measure requirement.

In order for the Ejection Fraction result pathway to be recognized as below 40%, the result must be reported as a number with unit of %. A text string of "below 40%" or "ejection fraction between 35 and 40%" will not be recognized through electronic data capture. Although, this criteria can also be met using the Diagnosis pathway if specified as "Moderate or Severe."

Eligible clinicians who have given a prescription for or whose patient is already taking an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI) or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) would meet performance for this measure. Other combination therapies that consist of an ACEI plus diuretic, ARB + neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), ARB plus diuretic, ACEI plus calcium channel blocker, ARB plus calcium channel blocker, or ARB plus calcium channel blocker plus diuretic would also meet performance for this measure.

This FHIR-based measure has been derived from the QDM-based measure CMS135v14. Please refer to the HL7 QI-Core Implementation Guide (https://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/STU6/) for more information on QI-Core and mapping recommendations from QDM to QI-Core STU 6 (https://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/STU6/qdm-to-qicore.html).

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Specifications and Data Elements
Release Notes
Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026