The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is beta testing four new mammography-related measures, the agency announced recently.
Developed by Acumen LLC, the update includes three quality measurements and one episode-based cost measure, the American College of Radiology said in a Thursday alert to members. CMS’ aim is to assess physician performance in breast cancer screening, along with improving patient outcomes.
“The testing process is an important step in determining whether these measures could eventually be adopted into CMS’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System,” ACR said Feb. 8.
Radiology providers can submit feedback through the 2024 Beta Testing Feedback Survey until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Feb. 26. The feds also plan to host an informational webinar about the measures on Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
Acumen was previously awarded a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop the measures. The project plans to link current practice standards to policy initiatives, creating a cohesive set of measures based around the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Atlas.
“This will allow radiology practitioners to assess performance, value, and outcomes; engage in national policy; and work towards achieving a national standard for diagnostic excellence,” CMS said in its announcement.
Acumen is gathering feedback during the beta testing period, with the technical expert panel that developed the measures planning to incorporate input and refine them further.
Here’s a quick look at the measures:
- Breast Cancer Screening Recall Rate: Percentage of women 40 and older who had a positive screening mammogram, measured as cases with diagnostic follow-up for additional testing. This includes diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis, mammogram, ultrasound and MRI.
- Breast Cancer Screening with an Eventual Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Percentage of women 40 and older who had a positive screening mammogram that led to an eventual breast cancer diagnosis.
- Use of Biopsy After Diagnostic Follow-up with an Eventual Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Percentage of women 40 and older who had a biopsy from a diagnostic follow-up that resulted in an eventual breast cancer diagnosis.
- Breast Cancer Screening Episode-Based Cost Measure: Costs of services that are clinically related to the attributed clinician’s role in managing care during each episode, starting from the critical event (screening mammogram) that opens or “triggers” the episode through 365 days afterward or at the next screening mammogram.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.