decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2011 Issue 4 (April)
End-of-life planning may help you earn quality bonus
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Article Overview
This article is about end-of-life planning as a quality-reporting topic for physicians and practices. It explains the connection to the Physician Quality Reporting System, the broader Medicare quality-reporting context, and the practical reason these conversations matter for patient care and practice management. It is relevant to clinicians, coding and compliance staff, and practice administrators who want to understand the reporting framework and the organizations and resources associated with advance care planning.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers understand how a non-billable clinical conversation can still be tied to Medicare quality reporting and practice performance. The article also shows why documentation and reporting infrastructure matter for practices that participate in PQRS-related programs.
Article Sections
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Overview of end-of-life planning and quality reporting
Introduces the topic and explains its relationship to Medicare quality reporting and practice incentives. It also places the discussion in the context of annual wellness visit changes and ACO-related policy developments.
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PQRS reporting context and resources
Summarizes the reporting program referenced in the article, including its general purpose, incentive structure, and related federal policy context. This section also mentions public resources and awareness efforts connected to advance care planning.
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Reporting the measure
Describes the general documentation and reporting expectations for this quality measure and identifies the relevant CPT-based reporting identifiers. It also notes that practices may use outside forms and educational materials to support these discussions.
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End-of-life planning benefits for practices
Discusses the broader practice value of advance care planning conversations, including patient decision-making preferences and workflow implications. It emphasizes why the topic is operationally important beyond reimbursement.
What You Will Learn
- How end-of-life planning discussions relate to Medicare quality reporting
- Why this topic can affect practice incentives and reporting performance
- What general documentation expectations apply to the measure
- Which organizations and public resources are mentioned in connection with advance care planning
- Why these conversations can matter to patient care and practice operations
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Practice administrators
- Medical coders
- Billing and reimbursement staff
- Compliance professionals
- Quality reporting teams
Codes Discussed
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