Diabetic Retinopathy: Communication with the Physician Managing Ongoing Diabetes Care

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy who had a dilated macular or fundus exam performed with documented communication to the physician who manages the ongoing care of the patient with diabetes mellitus regarding the findings of the macular or fundus exam at least once during the measurement period

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Diabetic retinopathy is a prevalent complication of diabetes, estimated to affect 28.5% of diabetic patients in the US (Zhang et al., 2010). Diabetic retinopathy is a key indicator of systemic complications of diabetes (Zhang et al., 2010). Coordination of care between the eye care specialist and the physician managing a patient’s ongoing diabetes care is essential in stemming the progression of vision loss. Communication from the eye care specialist to a primary care physician facilitates the exchange of information about the severity and progression of a patient’s diabetic retinopathy, adherence to recommended ocular care, need for follow-up visits, and treatment plans (Storey et al., 2016). Data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed that diabetic treatment and maintenance of glucose control delays the onset and slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy (Aiello & DCCT/EDIC Research Group, 2014).

The ophthalmologist should refer patients with diabetes to a primary care physician for appropriate management of their systemic condition and should communicate examination results to the physician managing the patient's ongoing diabetes care (III; Good Quality; Strong Recommendation) (Flaxel et al., 2020).

Ophthalmologists should communicate the ophthalmologic findings and level of retinopathy with the primary care physician as well as the need for optimizing metabolic control (III; Good Quality; Strong Recommendation) (Flaxel et al,, 2020). 

Close partnership with the primary care physician is important to make sure that the care of the patient is optimized (III; Good Quality; Strong Recommendation) (Flaxel et al., 2020).

Higher score indicates better quality

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Aiello, L. P., & DCCT/EDIC Research Group (2014). Diabetic retinopathy and other ocular findings in the diabetes control and complications trial/epidemiology of diabetes interventions and complications study. Diabetes care, 37(1), 17–23. doi:10.2337/dc13-2251'

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Flaxel, C. J., Adelman, R. A., Bailey, S. T., Fawzi, A., Lim, J. I., Vemulakonda, G. A., & Ying, G. S. (2020). Diabetic Retinopathy Preferred Practice Pattern(R). Ophthalmology, 127(1), P66–P145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.09.025'

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Storey, P. P., Murchison, A. P., Pizzi, L. T., Hark, L. A., Dai, Y., Leiby, B. E., & Haller, J. A. Impact of physician communication on diabetic eye examination adherence: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Retina. 2016 Jan;36(1),20-7. doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000000652'

Reference Type: CITATION

Reference Text: 'Zhang, X., Saaddine, J. B., Chou, C. F., Cotch, M. F., Cheng, Y. J., Geiss, L. S., … Klein, R. (2010). Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the United States, 2005-2008. JAMA, 304(6), 649–656. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1111'

Communication - May include documentation in the medical record indicating that the findings of the dilated macular or fundus exam were communicated (e.g., verbally, by letter) with the clinician managing the patient's diabetic care OR a copy of a letter in the medical record to the clinician managing the patient's diabetic care outlining the findings of the dilated macular or fundus exam.

Findings - Includes level of severity of retinopathy (e.g., mild nonproliferative, moderate nonproliferative, severe nonproliferative, very severe nonproliferative, proliferative) AND the presence or absence of macular edema.

The measure, as written, does not specifically require documentation of laterality. Coding limitations in particular clinical terminologies do not currently allow for that level of specificity (ICD-10-CM includes laterality, but SNOMED-CT does not uniformly include this distinction). Therefore, at this time, it is not a requirement of this measure to indicate laterality of the diagnoses, findings or procedures. Available coding to capture the data elements specified in this measure has been provided. It is assumed that the eligible clinician will record laterality in the patient medical record, as quality care and clinical documentation should include laterality.

The communication of results to the primary care physician providing ongoing care of a patient's diabetes should be completed soon after the dilated exam is performed. Eligible clinicians reporting on this measure should note that all data for the reporting year is to be submitted by the deadline established by CMS. Therefore, eligible clinicians who see patients towards the end of the reporting period (i.e., December in particular), should communicate the results of the dilated macular exam as soon as possible in order for those patients to be counted in the measure numerator. Communicating the results as soon as possible after the date of the exam will ensure the data are included in the submission to CMS.

This eCQM is a patient-based measure.

Telehealth encounters are not eligible for this measure because the measure requires a clinical action that cannot be conducted via telehealth.

This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.6. Please refer to the eCQI resource center (https://ecqi.healthit.gov/qdm) for more information on the QDM.

TBD

All patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy

Equals Initial Population who had a dilated macular or fundus exam performed

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Patients with documentation, at least once within the measurement period, of the findings of the dilated macular or fundus exam via communication to the physician who manages the patient's diabetic care

Not Applicable

Documentation of medical reason(s) for not communicating the findings of the dilated macular or fundus exam to the physician who manages the ongoing care of the patient with diabetes.

Documentation of patient reason(s) for not communicating the findings of the dilated macular or fundus exam to the physician who manages the ongoing care of the patient with diabetes.

For every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity and sex

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