Update on 2019 Feedback Report Benchmarks for AQI48

CMS will be reevaluating the benchmarks that were used for determining MIPS scores for performance year 2019 for AQI48: Patient-Reported Experience with Anesthesia. The historic benchmark used for Eligible Clinicians (ECs) and their groups when scoring 2019 performance was based off of the 2017 version of the measure.

• In 2017, AQI48 measured the “Percentage of patients, aged 18 and older, who were surveyed on their patient experience and satisfaction with anesthesia care.”
• In 2019, ECs and groups reported a different measure – the “Percentage of patients aged 18 and older, who were surveyed on their patient experience and satisfaction with anesthesia care and who reported a positive experience.”

CMS will use current year (2019) benchmarks to re-score the measure. The historic 2017 benchmark did not reflect the 2019 data or the quality of care you and your colleagues provided in 2019. ASA believes using 2019 data for benchmarking will improve the scores of most anesthesiologists and their groups.

If you wish to be alerted by CMS on how your performance and scores will be affected for payment purposes next year, individuals and groups who reported AQI48 are encouraged to submit a targeted review to use 2019 data. You do not need to submit a targeted review for CMS to update your score.

Those submitting a request can follow these instructions:

1. Go to your QPP sign-in portal.
2. If you reported as a group, your appeal will be at the group level. This means you will not have to submit an appeal for each member of your group who reported AQI48.
3. If you reported as an individual, your appeal will be at the individual level.
4. Select quality performance category.
5. Select measure/improvement activity for the issue.
6. In the additional detail or free text section, please use similar language to, “[We] are requesting a targeted review for AQI48: Patient-Reported Experience with Anesthesia. [We] believe that the historical benchmark, based off of 2017 performance, does not reflect the 2019 measure or the care we provided to patients in 2019. We request that CMS use the current year (2019) benchmark for that measure for [our group].”

Targeted reviews must be submitted to CMS by Monday, October 5, 2020. It is expected that CMS will provide a response within 30 days.

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you encounter any challenges with filing the appeal.