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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 2026 version to

Table Options
Measure Information 2026 Performance Period
Title Use of High-Risk Medications in Older Adults
CMS eCQM ID CMS156v14
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....

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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)....

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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 (2023). The criteria were developed through key clinical expert consensus processes by Beers in 1997, Zhan in 2001, Fick et al. in...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Numerator Exclusions

None

Denominator Exceptions

None

Telehealth Eligible Yes
Next Version No Version Available
Previous Version

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 'UseofHighRiskMedicationsintheElderly' to 'CMS156UseofHighRiskMedsintheElderly' for alignment with the CQL Style Guide.

Definitions

Annual 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 CumulativeMedicationDurationQDM library to 4.0.000.

Definitions

Annual Update

Updated the version number of the HospiceQDM library to 7.0.000.

Definitions

Annual Update

Updated the version number of the PalliativeCareQDM library to 5.0.000.

Definitions

Annual Update

Updated Measure Primary CQL Library Name from 'UseofHighRiskMedicationsintheElderly' to 'CMS156UseofHighRiskMedsintheElderly' for alignment with the CQL Style Guide.

Functions

Annual 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 CumulativeMedicationDurationQDM library to 4.0.000.

Functions

Annual Update

Updated the version number of the HospiceQDM library to 7.0.000.

Functions

Annual Update

Updated the version number of the PalliativeCareQDM library to 5.0.000.

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 'Alcohol Withdrawal' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1209): Deleted 2 SNOMEDCT codes (288041000119101, 85561006) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Benzodiazepine Withdrawal' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1208): Deleted 2 SNOMEDCT codes (724662001, 724664000) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Bipolar Disorder' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.67.1.101.1.128): Deleted 2 SNOMEDCT codes (191625000, 191634005) based on code system/terminology updates.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Generalized Anxiety Disorder' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1210): Added 4 SNOMEDCT codes (70655008, 15277004, 20876004, 39951001) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback. Deleted 3 SNOMEDCT codes (191737008, 191738003, 192014006) 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 'Palliative Care Encounter' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1090): Deleted 1 HCPCS code (M1017) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Antihistamines for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1043): Added 14 RxNorm codes (2681010, 1049884, 2670677, 1291266, 2049283, 2167750, 2683425, 2683226, 2683423, 2695452, 2683422, 2687211, 1294607, 2676954) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback. Deleted 6 RxNorm codes (1294348, 1294567, 1367219, 1372265, 1537095, 1789508) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Antiinfectives for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1481): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (1648755) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Benzodiazepines for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.196.12.1522): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (763029) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Estrogens for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1058): Deleted 1 RxNorm code (205333) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Pain Medications for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1063): Deleted 3 RxNorm codes (1665675, 1665679, 1665682) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Potentially Harmful Skeletal Muscle Relaxants for Older Adults' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.1062): Added 1 RxNorm code (197945) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Schizophrenia' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1205): Added 1 SNOMEDCT code (1335862003) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback. Deleted 1 SNOMEDCT code (191563001) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual Update

Value Set 'Seizure Disorder' (2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.105.12.1206): Added 39 SNOMEDCT codes (111498005, 116401000119105, 1167371007, 1172844009, 1197587003, 1208486005, 1260117009, 1260368003, 1260369006, 1260370007, 1260371006, 1260374003, 1260375002, 1260377005, 1260407007, 1269236003, 1275631007, 193010006, 2198002, 290741000119102, 361123003, 430061000124109, 430071000124102, 432171000124102, 44423001, 715425000, 717276003, 725413002, 765089003, 766932005, 770624005, 771303004, 771516000, 773497001, 782737003, 782772000, 784345005, 84211000119108, 95208000) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback. Deleted 47 SNOMEDCT codes (170706008, 192979009, 230401007, 230415009, 230427007, 230428002, 230430000, 230435005, 230455006, 246549008, 246550008, 246551007, 246552000, 290671000119100, 290681000119102, 290691000119104, 290711000119101, 290721000119108, 290761000119103, 329991000119104, 352818000, 37356005, 401178003, 407616001, 422513000, 42365007, 431101000124102, 432151000124107, 432161000124109, 432291000124105, 432471000124108, 432501000124101, 434211000124108, 434491000124104, 440211000124100, 47391000119107, 51887003, 53521000119106, 65120008, 68091000119102, 698760002, 698763000, 71831005, 735235000, 771142009, 8291000119107, 84191000119107) based on review by technical experts, SMEs and/or public feedback.

Terminology

Annual 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

Last Updated: May 07, 2025