Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis

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Measure Information	2023 Performance Period	2024 Performance Period	2025 Performance Period	2026 Performance Period
Title	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis	Appropriate Testing for Pharyngitis
CMS eCQM ID	CMS146v11	CMS146v12	CMS146v13	CMS146v14
CBE ID*	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
MIPS Quality ID	066	066	066	066
Measure Steward	National Committee for Quality Assurance	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	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	Proportion measure
Measure Type	Process	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	- 3-17 years - 18-64 years - 65 years and older
Risk Adjustment	*See CMS146v11.html	None	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	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	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	Higher score indicates better quality
Definition	*See CMS146v11.html	None	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	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	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	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	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	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	None
Denominator Exceptions	None	None	None	None
Telehealth Eligible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Next Version	CMS146v12	CMS146v13	CMS146v14	No Version Available
Previous Version	No Version Available	CMS146v11	CMS146v12	CMS146v13

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Specifications

Additional Resources for CMS146v14

CMS146-v14.0.000-TRN.xlsx

Header

TRN	Measure Section	Source of Change
Changed the 'eCQM Identifier (Measure Authoring Tool)' field name to 'CMS ID' based on tooling updates.	CMS ID	Standards/Technical Update
Updated the eCQM version number.	eCQM Version Number	Annual Update
Updated the generic measurement period from 'January 1, 20XX through December 31, 20XX' to specify 'January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026' based on tooling updates.	Measurement Period	Standards/Technical Update
Updated copyright.	Copyright	Annual Update
Changed 'Numerator Exclusions' field to read 'None' instead of 'Not Applicable' when no exclusions are present.	Numerator Exclusions	Standards/Technical Update

Logic

TRN	Measure Section	Source of Change
Updated Measure Primary CQL Library Name from 'AppropriateTestingforPharyngitis' to 'CMS146AppropriateTestingforPharyngitis' for alignment with the CQL Style Guide.	Definitions	Standards/Technical Update
Updated the version number of the Global Common Functions Library to 9.0.000 and the library name from 'MATGlobalCommonFunctionsQDM' to 'CQMCommonQDM.'	Definitions	Annual Update
Updated the version number of the HospiceQDM library to 7.0.000.	Definitions	Annual Update
Updated Measure Primary CQL Library Name from 'AppropriateTestingforPharyngitis' to 'CMS146AppropriateTestingforPharyngitis' for alignment with the CQL Style Guide.	Functions	Standards/Technical Update
Updated the version number of the Global Common Functions Library to 9.0.000 and the library name from 'MATGlobalCommonFunctionsQDM' to 'CQMCommonQDM.'	Functions	Annual Update
Updated the version number of the HospiceQDM library to 7.0.000.	Functions	Annual 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.

TRN	Measure Section	Source of Change
Value Set 'Antibiotic Medications for Pharyngitis' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1001): Added 3 RxNorm codes (242807, 313252, 313254) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback. Deleted 1 RxNorm code (577378) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.	Terminology	Annual Update
Value Set 'Office Visit' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1001): Added 1 SNOMEDCT code (185349003) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.	Terminology	Annual Update
Replaced Value Set 'ONC Administrative Sex' (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1) with Value Set 'Federal Administrative Sex' (2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1021.121) to represent Supplemental Data Element 'SDE Sex' based on revised standards.	Terminology	Standards/Technical Update
Value Set 'Telephone Visits' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1080): Added 8 CPT codes (98009, 98013, 98010, 98011, 98014, 98008, 98015, 98012) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.	Terminology	Annual Update