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CMS-1403-FC
claims processing systems needed to be able to accept the
PQRI quality data codes and attribute them to an eligible
professional, it is unknown at this time whether these
changes can be made without undue burden to our systems or
what the timeline for potential implementation would be.
Regarding the concern that pathologists who bill
through independent laboratories are unable to participate
in the PQRI, we note that only eligible professionals as
defined in section 1848(k)(3)(B)of the Act are eligible to
participate in PQRI. As discussed in section II.O1.a.ii.
above, “eligible professional” is defined to include
physicians, other practitioners as described in section
1842(b)(18)(C) of the Act, physical and occupational
therapists, qualified speech-language pathologists, and
qualified audiologists for the purposes of the 2009 PQRI.
As noted in the comment, independent laboratories are
suppliers and are therefore not eligible to participate in
PQRI. Pathologists who bill directly to Medicare, however,
are eligible to participate in PQRI.
Comment: Several commenters noted the mechanism for
viewing the feedback reports was too cumbersome and were
concerned about the lack of timely feedback (both in terms
of when the feedback reports are received and when
incentive payments are received). Several commenters
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