Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis

Compare Versions of: "Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis"

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Measure Information	2023 Performance Period	2024 Performance Period	2025 Performance Period
Title	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis
CMS eCQM ID	CMS146v11	CMS146v12	CMS146v13
CBE ID*	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
MIPS Quality ID	066	066	066
Measure Steward	National Committee for Quality Assurance	National Committee for Quality Assurance	National Committee for Quality Assurance
Description	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 ... Show more > 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 Show less	The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date 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 Show more > The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date 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 Show less	The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date 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 Show more > The percentage of episodes for patients 3 years and older with a diagnosis of pharyngitis that resulted in an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date 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 Show less
Measure Scoring	Proportion measure	Proportion measure	Proportion measure
Measure Type	Process	Process	Process
Stratification	*See CMS146v11.html	- 3-17 years - 18-64 years - 65 years and older	- 3-17 years - 18-64 years - 65 years and older
Risk Adjustment	*See CMS146v11.html	None	None
Rationale	*See CMS146v11.html	Group A streptococcal (GAS) bacterial infections and other infections that cause pharyngitis (which are most often viral) often produce the same signs and symptoms (Shulman et al., 2012). The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the... Infectious Diseases Society of America all recommend a diagnostic test for Strep A to improve diagnostic accuracy and avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment (Linder et al., 2005). Estimated economic costs of pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis in the United States range from $224 million to $539 million per year, including indirect costs related to parental work losses. At a higher level, the economic cost of antibiotic resistance varies but has extended as high as $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion a year (2008 dollars) (Pfoh et al., 2008). Show more > Group A streptococcal (GAS) bacterial infections and other infections that cause pharyngitis (which are most often viral) often produce the same signs and symptoms (Shulman et al., 2012). The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America all recommend a diagnostic test for Strep A to improve diagnostic accuracy and avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment (Linder et al., 2005). Estimated economic costs of pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis in the United States range from $224 million to $539 million per year, including indirect costs related to parental work losses. At a higher level, the economic cost of antibiotic resistance varies but has extended as high as $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion a year (2008 dollars) (Pfoh et al., 2008). Show less	Group A streptococcal (GAS) bacterial infections and other infections that cause pharyngitis (which are most often viral) often produce the same signs and symptoms (Shulman et al., 2012). The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the... Infectious Diseases Society of America all recommend a diagnostic test for Strep A to improve diagnostic accuracy and avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment (Linder et al., 2005). Estimated economic costs of pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis in the United States range from $224 million to $539 million per year, including indirect costs related to parental work losses. At a higher level, the economic cost of antibiotic resistance varies but has extended as high as $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion a year (2008 dollars) (Pfoh et al., 2008). Show more > Group A streptococcal (GAS) bacterial infections and other infections that cause pharyngitis (which are most often viral) often produce the same signs and symptoms (Shulman et al., 2012). The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America all recommend a diagnostic test for Strep A to improve diagnostic accuracy and avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment (Linder et al., 2005). Estimated economic costs of pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis in the United States range from $224 million to $539 million per year, including indirect costs related to parental work losses. At a higher level, the economic cost of antibiotic resistance varies but has extended as high as $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion a year (2008 dollars) (Pfoh et al., 2008). Show less
Clinical Recommendation Statement	*See CMS146v11.html	Infectious Disease Society of America (2012) The Infectious Diseases Society of America "recommends swabbing the throat and testing for GAS pharyngitis by rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or culture because the clinical features alone do not reliably discriminate between GAS and... viral pharyngitis except when overt viral features like rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, and/or hoarseness are present" Show more > Infectious Disease Society of America (2012) The Infectious Diseases Society of America "recommends swabbing the throat and testing for GAS pharyngitis by rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or culture because the clinical features alone do not reliably discriminate between GAS and viral pharyngitis except when overt viral features like rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, and/or hoarseness are present" Show less	Infectious Disease Society of America (Shulman et al., 2012) The Infectious Diseases Society of America "recommends swabbing the throat and testing for GAS pharyngitis by rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or culture because the clinical features alone do not reliably discriminate... between GAS and viral pharyngitis except when overt viral features like rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, and/or hoarseness are present" Show more > Infectious Disease Society of America (Shulman et al., 2012) The Infectious Diseases Society of America "recommends swabbing the throat and testing for GAS pharyngitis by rapid antigen detection test (RADT) and/or culture because the clinical features alone do not reliably discriminate between GAS and viral pharyngitis except when overt viral features like rhinorrhea, cough, oral ulcers, and/or hoarseness are present" Show less
Improvement Notation	Higher score indicates better quality	Higher score indicates better quality	Higher score indicates better quality
Definition	*See CMS146v11.html	None	None
Guidance	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. Show more > 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. Show less	This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient. 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 or three 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 from January 1 to December 28 of 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. Show more > This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient. 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 or three 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 from January 1 to December 28 of 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. Show less	This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient. 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 or three 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 from January 1 to December 28 of 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. Show more > This is an episode of care measure that examines all eligible episodes for the patient. 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 or three 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 from January 1 to December 28 of 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. Show less
Initial Population	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 ... Show more > 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 Show less	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 from January 1 to December 28 of the measurement period and an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode... date among patients 3 years or older Show more > 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 from January 1 to December 28 of the measurement period and an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date among patients 3 years or older Show less	Outpatient, telephone, virtual encounter (i.e., e-visit or virtual check-in), or emergency department (ED) visits with a diagnosis of pharyngitis or tonsillitis from January 1 to December 28 of the measurement period and an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date among... patients 3 years or older Show more > Outpatient, telephone, virtual encounter (i.e., e-visit or virtual check-in), or emergency department (ED) visits with a diagnosis of pharyngitis or tonsillitis from January 1 to December 28 of the measurement period and an antibiotic order on or three days after the episode date among patients 3 years or older Show less
Denominator	Equals Initial Population	Equals Initial Population	Equals Initial Population
Denominator Exclusions	Exclude episodes where the patient is taking antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date, or had an active prescription on the episode date. Exclude episodes where the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude episodes when the... patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or within three days after the episode date. Show more > Exclude episodes where the patient is taking antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date, or had an active prescription on the episode date. Exclude episodes where the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude episodes when the patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or within three days after the episode date. Show less	Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient is taking... antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or three days after the episode date. Show more > Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient is taking antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or three days after the episode date. Show less	Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient is taking... antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or three days after the episode date. Show more > Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had hospice care for any part of the measurement period. Exclude pharyngitis episodes when the patient had a comorbid condition during the 12 months prior to or on the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient is taking antibiotics in the 30 days prior to the episode date. Exclude pharyngitis episodes where the patient had a competing diagnosis on or three days after the episode date. Show less
Numerator	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	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	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
Numerator Exclusions	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Denominator Exceptions	None	None	None
Telehealth Eligible	Yes	Yes	Yes
Next Version	CMS146v12	CMS146v13	No Version Available
Previous Version	No Version Available	CMS146v11	CMS146v12

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Specifications

Additional Resources for CMS146v11

CMS146v11-TRN.xlsx

Header

Updated copyright.
Measure Section: Copyright
Source of Change: Annual Update
Updated version number of the Quality Data Model (QDM) used in the measure specification to v5.6.
Measure Section: Guidance
Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update
Updated the initial population language to align with the logic and the current value sets.
Measure Section: Initial Population
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Revised the description, guidance, and initial population to use 'order' instead of 'dispense' to align with the measure logic.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Updated the description and guidance to clarify the strep test timing requirements.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: ONC Project Tracking System (JIRA): CQM-4726
Updated grammar and punctuation to improve readability.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Measure Lead

Logic

Updated the timing precision in definitions from datetime to date by adding the 'day of' operator to align with measure intent.
Measure Section: Definitions
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Revised the logic to exclude patients with an antibiotic that is active before the encounter but is still active the same day of the encounter date.
Measure Section: Definitions
Source of Change: ONC Project Tracking System (JIRA): CQM-4749
Added QDM datatypes Encounter, Performed and Assessment, Performed and associated logic to the Hospice.'Has Hospice Services' definition to provide additional approaches for identifying patients receiving hospice services.
Measure Section: Definitions
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Replaced value set Preventive Care Services Other (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1030) with direct reference code CPT code (99429).
Measure Section: Definitions
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Updated the version number of the Measure Authoring Tool (MAT) Global Common Functions Library to v7.0.000.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update
Updated the version number of the Hospice Library to v4.0.000.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Updated the version of the Quality Data Model (QDM) to 5.6 and Clinical Quality Language (CQL) to 1.5.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update
Replaced the Global.CalendarAgeInYearsAt function with the native CQL function AgeInYearsAt to take advantage of existing CQL features and increase human readability. As a result of this change, the LOINC code 21112-8 is no longer required and has been removed from the Terminology section of the human readable specification.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Updated the timing precision in the definitions from datetime to date by adding 'day of', 'date from', and/or function 'ToDateInterval' to align with the measure intent.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Revised the timing requirements for the strep test to occur in the interval between the 3 days before through the 3 days after the encounter.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: ONC Project Tracking System (JIRA): CQM-4726
Updated the names of CQL definitions, functions, and/or aliases for clarification and to align with the CQL Style Guide.
Measure Section: Multiple Sections
Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

Value set

The VSAC is the source of truth for the value set content, please visit the VSAC for downloads of current value sets.

Removed direct reference code LOINC code (21112-8) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Value set Competing Conditions for Respiratory Conditions (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.102.12.1017): Added 136 SNOMED CT codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 55 SNOMED CT codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 1 ICD-10-CM code (A04.7) based on validity of code during timing of look back period.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Value set Comorbid Conditions for Respiratory Conditions (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.102.12.1025): Added 8 SNOMED CT codes (1092771000119104, 1144499001, 1149259003, 1153413001, 1153415008, 15984271000119108, 16016231000119109, 16016311000119107) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 9 SNOMED CT codes (266355005, 77690003, 34320001, 186231006, 203271005, 25042006, 418750009, 59190009, 724502006) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Value set Antibiotic Medications for Pharyngitis (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1001): Added 11 RxNorm codes (1291986, 1650198, 1809083, 2099768, 2122343, 309042, 351121, 757968, 758019, 853019, 861416) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 94 RxNorm codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Added value set Hospice Encounter (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1003) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1026): Renamed to Preventive Care Services Individual Counseling based on recommended value set naming conventions.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Annual Update
Value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1023): Renamed to Preventive Care Services Initial Office Visit, 18 and Up based on recommended value set naming conventions.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Annual Update
Value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1002): Renamed to Initial Hospital Observation Care based on recommended value set naming conventions.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Annual Update
Value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1025): Renamed to Preventive Care Services Established Office Visit, 18 and Up based on recommended value set naming conventions.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Annual Update
Replaced value set Hospice Care Ambulatory (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1108.15) with value set Hospice Care Ambulatory (2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1584) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Replaced value set Preventive Care Services Other (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1030) with direct reference code CPT code (99429) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Added direct reference code LOINC code (45755-6) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead
Value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1027): Renamed to Preventive Care Services Group Counseling based on recommended value set naming conventions.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Annual Update
Added direct reference code SNOMED CT code (373066001) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.
Measure Section: Terminology
Source of Change: Measure Lead