The rule, contained in the 2014 Medicare physician fee schedule, would allow specialist medical societies to determine which quality measures physicians will be required to report by allowing reporting through specialist-focused qualified CDRs.
The new rule was hailed by the specialist medical societies, who had lobbied against a set of common reporting standards that many not properly represent specialists.
However, GAO believes this flexibility will not result in the most desirable data being reported. The rule provides “minimal impetus to CDRs to take full advantage of their specific opportunities to promote the quality and efficiency of care. For example, CMS’ plans do not include a process or criteria for assessing the extent to which the measures selected by a CDR in fact address the key opportunities that could result in improved care for its particular target population,” according to the report.
The report states a possible solution would be for CMS to include a meaningful use standard requiring electronic health record systems to be able to send data directly to CDRs, cutting out reporting bias and providing more access to providers’ clinical data.
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