The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic dispensing event and a group A streptococcus (strep) test
Outpatient, telephone, online assessment, observation, or emergency department (ED) visits with a diagnosis of pharyngitis and an antibiotic dispensing event among patients 3 years or older
Equals Initial Population
Exclude episodes where the patient is taking antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date.
Exclude episodes where the patient had a competing comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date.
Exclude episodes when the patient had hospice care overlapping with the measurement period.
Exclude episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis within three days after the episode date.
A group A streptococcus test in the seven-day period from three days prior to the episode date through three days after the episode date
Not Applicable
None
Higher score indicates better quality
This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient during the measurement period.
This eCQM is an episode-based measure.
This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.5. Please refer to the eCQI resource center for more information on the QDM.
The Compare function compares two years of the measure specifications found in the header of the measure's HTML. It does not include a comparison of any information in the body of the HTML, e.g., population criteria, Clinical Quality Language, or value sets.
Strikethrough text highlighted in red indicates information changed from the previous version. Text highlighted in green indicates information updated in the new eCQM version.
The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order and a group A streptococcus (strep) test in the seven-day period from three days prior to the episode date through three days after the episode date
Outpatient, telephone, online assessment (i.e. e-visit or virtual check-in), observation, or emergency department (ED) visits with a diagnosis of pharyngitis and an antibiotic dispensing event on or within 3 days after the episode date among patients 3 years or older
Outpatient, telephone, online assessment (i.e. e-visit or virtual check-in), observation, or emergency department (ED) visits with a diagnosis of pharyngitis or tonsillitis and an antibiotic order on or within 3 days after the episode date among patients 3 years or older
This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient during the measurement period. The intent is to determine whether antibiotics are being dispensed appropriately. Antibiotics should only be dispensed if a strep test has been performed to confirm a bacterial infection. Antibiotics should not be dispensed for viral infections.
This eCQM is an episode-based measure. An episode is defined as each eligible encounter for patients aged 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic dispensing event during the measurement period.
This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient during the measurement period. The intent is to determine whether antibiotics are being ordered appropriately. Antibiotics should only be ordered if a strep test has been performed to confirm a bacterial infection. Antibiotics should not be ordered for viral infections. Antibiotics should be ordered on the episode date through 3 days after the episode date.
This eCQM is an episode-based measure. An episode is defined as each eligible encounter for patients aged 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order during the measurement period.
This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.6. Please refer to the QDM page for more information on the QDM.
Updated the age ranges to 3 years and older, to address the increasing alarm of antibiotic overuse.
Measure Section: eCQM Title
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Updated eCQM Version Number.
Measure Section: eCQM Version Number
Source of Change: Standards Update
Measure Section: Description
Updated copyright.
Measure Section: Copyright
Source of Change: Annual Update
Updated the rationale to remove outdated references and content and to update references.
Measure Section: Rationale
Updated references.
Measure Section: Reference
Added more guidance about which eligible episode to include in the measure.
Measure Section: Guidance
Added text to identify the Quality Data Model (QDM) version used in the measure specification.
Added text to indicate whether the measure is patient-based or episode-based.
Revised wording of the initial population statement to reflect measure is episode based for consistency with the measure intent.
Measure Section: Initial Population
Measure Section: Denominator
Updated denominator exclusions to clarify language regarding eligible encounter types and add an exclusion for competing comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date.
Measure Section: Denominator Exclusions
Revised the numerator statement by clarifying that the test should be within 3 days of the episode date to align with the measure logic.
Measure Section: Numerator
Updated timing logic for the follow-up assessment to use 'in Interval' to simplify logic and promote harmonization between measures.
Measure Section: Definitions
Clinical Quality Language (CQL) Library version update: Updated version number of the Hospice Library (Hospice-2.2.000).
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
QDM v5.5 standards update: Added 'relevantDatetime' attribute to QDM datatypes. 'RelevantDatetime' indicates when the action occurred whereas 'authorDatetime' indicates when the action was recorded.
Updated CQL expression to conform with the HL7 Standard: Clinical Quality Language Specification, Release 1 STU 4 (CQL 1.4).
Updated the names of CQL definitions, functions, and/or aliases for clarification and to align with the CQL Style Guide.
Updated version number of the Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) Global Common Functions Library (MATGlobalCommonFunctions-5.0.000). Updated definitions and functions in the MAT Global Common Functions Library to align with standards changes, CQL Style Guide, and to include one new function related to calculating length of hospital stays with observation stays.
The VSAC is the source of truth for the value set content, please visit the VSAC for downloads of current value sets.
Value set Antibiotic Medications for Pharyngitis (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1001): Deleted 9 RxNorm codes (1148107, 199497, 199620, 199710, 199802, 245240, 245837, 245838, 761979) based on terminology update.
Measure Section: Terminology
Value set Outpatient Consultation (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1008): Deleted 1 SNOMED CT code (17436001) based on terminology update.
Value set Comorbid Conditions for Respiratory Conditions (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.102.12.1025): Added Comorbid Conditions for Respiratory Conditions based on change in measure requirements/measure specification.
Value set Telephone Visits (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1080): Added Telephone Visits based on change in measure requirements/measure specification.
Value set Competing Conditions for Respiratory Conditions (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.102.12.1017): Deleted 29 SNOMED CT codes based on terminology update.
Replaced Value set Discharge Services Observation Care (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1039) with direct reference code CPT Code (99217) to align with best practices for replacing single code value sets with direct reference codes.