Measure Description
Percentage of patients aged 6 months and older seen for a visit between October 1 and March 31 who received an influenza immunization OR who reported previous receipt of an influenza immunization
Instructions
This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once for visits for patients seen between January and March for the 2020-2021 influenza season AND a minimum of once for visits for patients seen between October and December for the 2021-2022 influenza season. This measure is intended to determine whether or not all patients aged 6 months and older received (either from the submitting Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinician or from an alternate care provider) the influenza immunization during the flu season. There is no diagnosis associated with this measure. This measure may be submitted by MIPS eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions described in the measure based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.
• If submitting this measure between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021, quality-data code G8482 shouldbe submitted when the influenza immunization is administered to the patient during the months of August,September, October, November, and December of 2020 or January, February, and March of 2021 for theflu season ending March 31, 2021.
• If submitting this measure between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, quality-data code G8482 should be submitted when the influenza immunization is administered to the patient during the monthsof August ofAugust, September, October, November, and December of 2021 for the flu season ending March 31, 2022.
• Influenza immunizations administered during the month of August or September of a given flu season (either 2020-2021 flu season OR 2021-2022 flu season) can be submitted when a visit occurs during the flu season (October 1 - March 31). In these cases, G8482 should be submitted.
NOTE: Patient encounters for this measure conducted via telehealth (e.g., encounters coded with GQ, GT, 95, or POS 02 modifiers) are allowable.
Measure Submission Type:
Measure data may be submitted by individual MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, or third party intermediaries. The listed denominator criteria are used to identify the intended patient population. The numerator options included in this specification are used to submit the quality actions as allowed by the measure. The quality-data codes listed do not need to be submitted by MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, or third party intermediaries that utilize this modality for submissions; however, these codes may be submitted for those third party intermediaries that utilize Medicare Part B claims data. For more information regarding Application Programming Interface (API), please refer to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website.
Denominator
All patients aged 6 months and older seen for a visit during the measurement period
DENOMINATOR NOTE: For the purposes of the program, in order to submit on the flu season 2020-2021, the patient must have a qualifying encounter between January 1 and March 31, 2021. In order to submit on the flu season 2021-2022, the patient must have a qualifying encounter between October 1 and December 31, 2021. A qualifying encounter needs to occur within the flu season that is being submitted; any additional encounter(s) may occur at any time within the measurement period.
*Signifies that this CPT Category I code is a non-covered service under the Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). These non-covered services should be counted in the denominator population for MIPS CQMs.
Denominator Criteria (Eligible Cases):
Patients aged ≥ 6 months
AND
Patient encounter during January thru March and/or October thru December (CPT or HCPCS): 90945, 90947, 90951, 90952, 90953, 90954, 90955, 90956, 90957, 90958, 90959, 90960, 90961, 90962, 90963, 90964, 90965, 90966, 90967, 90968, 90969, 90970, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99241*, 99242*, 99243*, 99244*, 99245*, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99315, 99316, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99381*, 99382*, 99383*, 99384*, 99385*, 99386*, 99387*, 99391*, 99392*, 99393*, 99394*, 99395*, 99396*, 99397*, 99401*, 99402*, 99403*, 99404*, 99411*, 99412*, 99429*, 99512*, G0438, G0439
Numerator
Patients who received an influenza immunization OR who reported previous receipt of an influenza immunization
Definition:
Previous Receipt – Receipt of the current season’s influenza immunization from another provider OR from same provider prior to the visit to which the measure is applied (typically, prior vaccination would include influenza vaccine given since August 1st).
Numerator Instruction:
The numerator for this measure can be met by submitting either administration of an influenza vaccination or that the patient reported previous receipt of the current season’s influenza immunization. If the performance of the numerator is not met, a MIPS eligible clinician can submit a valid denominator exception for having not administered an influenza vaccination. For MIPS eligible clinicians submitting a denominator exception for this measure, there should be a clear rationale and documented reason for not administering an influenza immunization if the patient did not indicate previous receipt, which could include a medical reason (e.g., patient allergy), patient reason (e.g., patient declined), or system reason (e.g., vaccination not available). The system reason should be indicated only for cases of disruption or shortage of influenza vaccination supply.
Due to the changing nature of the CDC/ACIP recommendations regarding the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) for a particular flu season, this measure will not include the administration of this specific formulation of the flu vaccination. Given the variance of the timeframes for the annual update cycles, program implementation, and publication of revised recommendations from the CDC/ACIP, it has been determined that the coding for this measure will specifically exclude this formulation, so as not to inappropriately include this form of the vaccine for flu seasons when CDC/ACIP explicitly advise against it. However, it is recommended that all eligible professionals or eligible clinicians review the guidelines for each flu season to determine appropriateness of the LAIV and other formulations of the flu vaccine. Should the LAIV be recommended for administration for a particular flu season, an eligible professional or clinician may consider one of the following options: 1) satisfy the numerator by reporting previous receipt, 2) report a denominator exception, either as a patient reason (e.g., for patient preference) or a system reason (e.g., the institution only carries LAIV).
NUMERATOR NOTE: Denominator Exception(s) are determined at the time of the denominator eligible encounter during the current flu season.
Numerator Options:
Performance Met: Influenza immunization administered or previously received (G8482)
OR
Denominator Exception: Influenza immunization was not administered for reasons documented by clinician (e.g., patient allergy or other medical reasons, patient declined or other patient reasons, vaccine not available or other system reasons) (G8483)
OR
Performance Not Met: Influenza immunization was not administered, reason not given (G8484)
Rationale
Influenza vaccination is the most effective protection against influenza virus infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). Influenza may lead to serious complications including hospitalization or death (CDC, 2018). Influenza vaccine is recommended for all persons aged >= 6 months who do not have contraindications to vaccination. However, data indicate that less than half of all eligible individuals receive an influenza vaccination (CDC, 2015). This measure promotes annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged >= 6 months.
Clinical Recommendation Statements
The following evidence statements are quoted verbatim from the referenced clinical guidelines.
Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged >= 6 months who do not have contraindications. Optimally, vaccination should occur before onset of influenza activity in the community. Although vaccination by the end of October is recommended, vaccine administered in December or later, even if influenza activity has already begun, is likely to be beneficial in the majority of influenza seasons (CDC/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP], 2019).