Back to top
Top
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Use of High-Risk Medications in Older Adults

Compare Versions of: "Use of High-Risk Medications in Older Adults"

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.

Compare 2024 version to

Table Options
Measure Information 2024 Performance Period
Title Use of High-Risk Medications in Older Adults
CMS eCQM ID CMS156v12
CBE ID* Not Applicable
MIPS Quality ID 238
Measure Steward National Committee for Quality Assurance
Description

Percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who were ordered at least two high-risk medications from the same drug class. Three rates are reported.

1. Percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who were ordered at least two high-risk medications from the same drug class.

2....

Show more >
Measure Scoring Proportion measure
Measure Type Process
Stratification

None

Risk Adjustment

None

Rationale

Certain medications (MacKinnon & Hepler, 2003) are associated with increased risk of harm from drug side-effects and drug toxicity and pose a concern for patient safety. There is clinical consensus that these drugs pose increased risks in older adults (Kaufman, Brodin, & Sarafian, 2005)....

Show more >
Clinical Recommendation Statement

The measure is based on recommendations from the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria[R] for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults (2019 Update). The criteria were developed through key clinical expert consensus processes by Beers in 1997, Zhan in 2001, and an...

Show more >
Improvement Notation

Lower score indicates better quality

Definition

Index Prescription Start Date (IPSD). The start date of the earliest prescription ordered for a high-risk medication during the measurement period.

A high-risk medication is identified by any one of the following:

a. A prescription for medications classified as high risk at any dose and...

Show more >
Guidance

The intent of the measure is to assess if the patient has been ordered at least two high-risk medication prescriptions from the same drug class on different days.

The intent of the measure is to assess if the reporting provider ordered the high-risk medication(s). If the patient had a...

Show more >
Initial Population

Patients 65 years and older at the end of the measurement period who had a visit during the measurement period

Denominator

Equals Initial Population

Denominator Exclusions

Exclude patients who are in hospice care for any part of the measurement period.

Exclude patients receiving palliative care for any part of the measurement period.

Numerator

Rate 1: Patients with at least two orders of high-risk medications from the same drug class on different days.

a. At least two orders of high-risk medications from the same drug class.

b. At least two orders of high-risk medications from the same drug class with summed days supply greater...

Show more >
Numerator Exclusions

Not Applicable

Denominator Exceptions

None

Telehealth Eligible Yes
Next Version
Previous Version

Header

  • Updated copyright.

    Measure Section: Copyright

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated references.

    Measure Section: Reference

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed the Numerator Exclusions criterion and converted to a Numerator negative inclusion criterion for the second population rate based on vendor feedback and measure intent.

    Measure Section: Numerator

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed the Numerator Exclusions criterion and converted to a Numerator negative inclusion criterion for the second population rate based on vendor feedback and measure intent.

    Measure Section: Numerator Exclusions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

Logic

  • Removed the Numerator Exclusions criterion and converted to a Numerator negative inclusion criterion for the second population rate based on vendor feedback and measure intent.

    Measure Section: Numerator

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed the Numerator Exclusions criterion and converted to a Numerator negative inclusion criterion for the second population rate based on vendor feedback and measure intent.

    Measure Section: Numerator Exclusions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated the version number of the Palliative Care Exclusion ECQM Library to v3.0.000.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated the version number of the Hospice Library to v5.0.000.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated the version number of the Cumulative Medication Duration Library to v2.0.000.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Replaced direct reference code 'Encounter with palliative care' with 'Palliative Care Diagnosis' value set in the PalliativeCare.Has Palliative Care in the Measurement Period definition to organize capture of patients receiving palliative care, per standards expert input.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added QDM datatype 'Diagnosis' to the Hospice.'Has Hospice Services' definition referencing a new value set containing SNOMED finding codes to provide an additional approach for identifying patients receiving hospice care.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added 'day of' specificity to the palliative care expressions for consistency.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added 'day of' specificity to hospice expressions for consistency.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Condensed relevant definitions into 'First Antipsychotic Medication Ordered' and 'First Benzodiazepine Medication Ordered' for simplification and improved readability.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated the names of CQL definitions, functions, and/or aliases for clarification and to align with the CQL Style Guide.

    Measure Section: Definitions

    Source of Change: Standards/Technical Update

  • Updated the version number of the Palliative Care Exclusion ECQM Library to v3.0.000.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated the version number of the Hospice Library to v5.0.000.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated the version number of the Cumulative Medication Duration Library to v2.0.000.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Updated the 'CodeToDaily' function so that highest dose is calculated consistently.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Updated numerator to capture patients with two orders of the same high-risk medication placed on the same day but with different start dates to meet measure intent.

    Measure Section: Functions

    Source of Change: Expert Work Group Review

Value Set

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

  • Replaced direct reference code ICD-10-CM code (Z51.5) with value set Palliative Care Diagnosis (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1167) based on change in measure requirements/measure specification.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Annual Update

  • Value set Anticholinergics, first generation antihistamines (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1043): Added 13 RxNorm codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 4 RxNorm codes (1116173, 1245374, 359329, 860151) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Antipsychotic (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1523): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (1791691) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Antispasmodics (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1050): Deleted 2 RxNorm codes (1048147, 1598634) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Benzodiazepine (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1522): Added 2 RxNorm codes (2594600, 2608698) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Benzodiazepine Withdrawal (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1208): Deleted 1 SNOMED CT code (361150008) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced value set Bipolar Disorder (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1157) with value set Bipolar Disorder (2.16.840.1.113883.3.67.1.101.1.128) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Central nervous system, barbiturates (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1055): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (1048147) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Endocrine system, estrogens with or without progestins (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1058): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (728118) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Hospice Care Ambulatory (2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1584): Deleted 3 SNOMED CT codes (170935008, 170936009, 305911006) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Added value set Hospice Diagnosis (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1165) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Hospice Encounter (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1003): Added 2 SNOMED CT codes (305911006, 385765002) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Online Assessments (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1089): Added 4 CPT codes (98980, 98981, 99444, 99457) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Added 3 HCPCS codes (G2250, G2251, G2252) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Replaced value set Ophthalmologic Services (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.11.1206) with value set Ophthalmological Services (2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1285) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Removed value set Other Bipolar Disorder (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1204) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Pain medications, skeletal muscle relaxants (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1062): Added 1 RxNorm code (2611794) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Palliative Care Intervention (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.198.12.1135): Deleted 3 SNOMED CT codes (305686008, 305824005, 441874000) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Payer (2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.3591): Added 5 SOP codes (1111, 1112, 142, 344, 141) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Schizophrenia (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1205): Added 1 SNOMED CT code (1204417003) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback. Deleted 3 SNOMED CT codes (191530008, 191538001, 191539009) based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

  • Value set Seizure Disorder (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1206): Added 21 SNOMED CT codes based on review by technical experts, SMEs, and/or public feedback.

    Measure Section: Terminology

    Source of Change: Measure Lead

Last Updated: Jun 03, 2024