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Mental health professionals can quality for a 2% bonus from Medicare under the Physician Quality Improvement Initiative. The program, started in 2006 was made permanent via the The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. However, the program only authorized incentive payments through 2010. Nevertheless, it appears that Medicare is committed to a quality improvement initiative tied to financial incentives.
Currently, mental health professionals can quality for the 2% bonus if they track 3 indicators (there are around 7 from which to choose); and this is done for at least 80% of the eligible claims.
(Users of CarePath’s eRecord can use a new template is called “Psychological Diagnostic Evaluation-Geriatric Rev” to quality for the bonus.)
For more information go to:
Go to the “tool kit” (left side box; 3rd from the bottom)
Check out “Downloads” – Has descriptive information
Best information is “Related Links outside CMS” – American Medical Association
Here you will find measure descriptions, data collection sheets and coding specifications
Check out measures 173, 128, and 134 as examples
