Are you aware that CMS is now sending reports to patients informing them if their physicians are providing quality measures? We all know that reporting these PQRS measures doesn’t make us better optometrists, but it does improve the overall care a patient receives. So why aren’t we all reporting these measures? With or without incentive payments, if you are performing the measures, report them. But in case financial factors are of main concern to you, in 2015 those not reporting these measures will be penalized.
Regardless of how we feel about the health care reform movement, the big factor is the shift from “fee for service” to “payment for performance.” By removing the emphasis from the “procedure” to “patient care,” costs should be decreased while providing better comprehensive care for patients. We all know that optometrists provide quality care for their patients. By reporting the quality measures, we are educating others about that quality care. We will not have to worry about exclusion from health care information exchanges, medical home models or accountable care organizations because others will be aware of the meaningful information we have to contribute as well as the vital role we play in the care of our patients.
This brings me to another important aspect of “quality optometry.” I recently attended a quality management meeting of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Emphasis was on how this health plan can improve and provide higher standards of care. One of the topics that arose was HEDIS scores for diabetic patients. HEDIS is a tool used by more than 90% of America’s health plans to measure performances on important dimensions of care and service.
Care of diabetic patients includes an annual dilated fundus evaluation. Who is better qualified to perform this service than optometry? And we are performing this service; now we need to report the findings to the PCPs in a timely fashion. These are our mutual patients, so we need to communicate our findings to assist in their total care. On a slightly selfish note, by reporting this information we are reiterating our value in the health care arena. We have proven our worth as primary eye care providers. As they become more aware of the care we are providing, other professionals will recognize the meaningful information we provide in the treatment of the entire person.
In 2009, the POA initiated the Pennsylvania Diabetic Eye Health Alliance (PDEHA) to encourage our members to take that extra step to manage diabetic patients, not simply diabetic eyes; emphasize correspondence with other professionals; and encourage patients to also seek other preventative steps, such as dental and podiatric services. We have many members signed up. The PDEHA section of the POA website includes a primer for care as well as sample letters for communication. If you have not signed up, please do so now by visiting http://www.poaeyes.org/ and clicking on the “More Information for Doctors” link in the PDEHA box on the right side of the page.
Remember to communicate with PCPs. Contact these physicians to confirm their preferred method of communication – fax, e-mail, snail mail etc. Open the doors of communication and demonstrate “quality optometry.” Share what we all know – optometrists are an important component of healthcare. We provide a vital service to our patients. We know it, now others will too.
