2023 MIPS Measure #459: Back Pain After Lumbar Surgery

Measure Description

For patients 18 years of age or older who had a lumbar discectomy/laminectomy or fusion procedure, back pain is rated by the patients as less than or equal to 3.0 OR an improvement of 5.0 points or greater on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Pain scale or a numeric pain scale at three months (6 to 20 weeks) postoperatively for discectomy/laminectomy or at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively for lumbar fusion patients. Rates are stratified by procedure type; lumbar discectomy/laminectomy or fusion procedure.

Instructions

This measure is to be submitted each time a patient undergoes a lumbar discectomy/laminectomy or fusion during the denominator identification period. This measure may be submitted by Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions described in the measure based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.

NOTE: This measure is a target-based measure with two ways to meet the numerator; either a postoperative VAS Pain score or numeric pain scale score that is less than or equal to 3.0 OR an improvement of 5.0 points or greater from the preoperative to postoperative score. It is expressed as a proportion or rate. Patients having received a lumbar discectomy/laminectomy or fusion procedure who are not assessed for back pain postoperatively remain in the denominator and are considered as not meeting the target. The measure intent is that MIPS eligible clinicians will submit all denominator eligible procedures to be utilized for performance calculation.

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 (Submission Criteria 1)

Patients with lumbar discectomy/laminectomy procedure

Patients 18 years of age or older as of January 1 of the denominator identification period who had a lumbar discectomy/laminectomy procedure performed during the denominator identification period

Definition:

Denominator Identification Period ― The twelve month period in which eligible patients have a procedure. This allows for enough time for a follow-up assessment to occur during the performance period. The “denominator identification period” includes dates of procedure 1/1/2022 to 12/31/2022.

Denominator Criteria (Eligible Cases):

Patients age ≥ 18 years by January 1 of the Denominator Identification Period

AND

Patient procedure during the denominator identification period (CPT): 63005, 63012, 63017, 63030, 63042 and 63047

WITHOUT

Telehealth Modifier (including but not limited to): GQ, GT, 95, POS 02

AND NOT

DENOMINATOR EXCLUSIONS:

Patient had a lumbar fusion on the same date as the discectomy/ laminectomy procedure (CPT): 22533, 22558, 22586, 22612, 22630, 22633

AND NOT

Patient had cancer, acute fracture or infection related to the lumbar spine OR patient had neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital lumbar scoliosis: G9945
- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar spine region cancer at the time of the procedure - The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region cancer: C41.2, C41.4, C79.51, C79.52, D16.6, D16.8, D48.0, D49.2

- Patients with a diagnosis of acute lumbar spine region fracture at the time of the procedure - The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region fracture: M48.44XA, M48.45XA, M48.46XA, M48.47XA, M48.48XA, M48.54XA, M48.55XA, M48.56XA, M48.57XA, M48.58XA, S22.060A, S22.060B, S22.061A, S22.061B, S22.062A, S22.062B, S22.068A, S22.068B, S22.069A, S22.069B, S22.070A, S22.070B, S22.071A, S22.071B, S22.072A, S22.072B, S22.078A, S22.078B, S22.079A, S22.079B, S22.080A, S22.080B, S22.081A, S22.081B, S22.082A, S22.082B, S22.088A, S22.088B, S22.089A, S22.089B, S24.103A, S24.104A, S24.113A, S24.114A, S24.133A, S24.134A, S24.143A, S24.144A, S24.153A, S24.154A, S32.000A, S32.000B, S32.001A, S32.001B, S32.002A, S32.002B, S32.008A, S32.008B, S32.009A, S32.009B, S32.010A, S32.010B, S32.011A, S32.011B, S32.012A, S32.012B, S32.018A, S32.018B, S32.019A, S32.019B, S32.020A, S32.020B, S32.021A, S32.021B, S32.022A, S32.022B, S32.028A, S32.028B, S32.029A, S32.029B, S32.030A, S32.030B, S32.031A, S32.031B, S32.032A, S32.032B, S32.038A, S32.038B, S32.039A, S32.039B, S32.040A, S32.040B, S32.041A, S32.041B, S32.042A, S32.042B, S32.048A, S32.048B, S32.049A, S32.049B, S32.050A, S32.050B, S32.051A, S32.051B, S32.052A, S32.052B, S32.058A, S32.058B, S32.059A, S32.059B, S32.10XA, S32.10XB, S32.110A, S32.110B, S32.111A, S32.111B, S32.112A, S32.112B, S32.119A, S32.119B, S32.120A, S32.120B, S32.121A, S32.121B, S32.122A, S32.122B, S32.129A, S32.129B, S32.130A, S32.130B, S32.131A, S32.131B, S32.132A, S32.132B, S32.139A, S32.139B, S32.14XA, S32.14XB, S32.15XA, S32.15XB, S32.16XA, S32.16XB, S32.17XA, S32.17XB, S32.19XA, S32.19XB, S32.2XXA, S32.2XXB, S32.9XXA, S32.9XXB, S34.101A, S34.102A, S34.103A, S34.104A, S34.105A, S34.109A, S34.111A, S34.112A, S34.113A, S34.114A, S34.115A, S34.119A, S34.121A, S34.122A, S34.123A, S34.124A, S34.125A, S34.129A, S34.131A, S34.132A, S34.139A, S34.3XXA

- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar spine region infection at the time of the procedure - The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region infection: M46.25, M46.26, M46.27, M46.28, M46.35, M46.36, M46.37, M46.38, M46.45, M46.46, M46.47, M46.48, M46.55, M46.56, M46.57, M46.58

- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital scoliosis - The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital scoliosis: M41.05, M41.06, M41.07, M41.08, M41.45, M41.46, M41.47, M41.115, M41.116, M41.117, M41.125, M41.126, M41.127, M41.25, M41.26, M41.27, Q67.5, Q76.3

Numerator

All eligible patients whose back pain is less than or equal to 3.0 OR an improvement of 5.0 points or greater on the VAS or Numeric Pain scale at three months (6 to 20 weeks) postoperatively

Definition:

Measure Assessment Period (Performance Period) ― The period of time following the procedure date that is in which a postoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score is obtained.

Preoperative Assessment VAS or Numeric Pain ― A preoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score can be obtained from the patient any time up to three months preoperatively, inclusive of the date of the procedure. Assessment scores obtained more than three months before the procedure will not be used for measure calculation. If more than one preoperative VAS or Numeric score was obtained, use the VAS or Numeric score that is the most recent and prior to the procedure.

Postoperative Assessment VAS or Numeric Pain ― A postoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score can be obtained from the patient at three months (6 - 20 weeks) after the date of procedure. Assessment scores obtained prior to six weeks and after 20 weeks postoperatively will not be used for measure calculation. If more than one postoperative VAS or Numeric score was obtained during the six to 20 weeks following the procedure, use the most recent score obtained during the allowable timeframe.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ― A “visual analog scale” is a continuous line indicating the continuum between two states of being. A copy of the tool can be obtained below or at the following link Visual Analog Scale Tool.

Numeric Pain Scale ― a numeric pain scale is one that asks the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 where zero is “No Pain” and 10 is pain that is intolerable. This type of pain score tool can be administered verbally to the patient and because it does not involve a visual line, multiple modes of administration (e.g., phone, virtual visit, patient portal, verbally in-person, etc.) are acceptable.

Back Pain Target #1 ― A patient who is assessed postoperatively at three months (6 to 20 weeks) after the procedure who rates their back pain as less than or equal to 3.0.

Back Pain Target #2 ― A patient who does not meet Back Pain Target #1 is assessed both preoperatively within 3 months prior to the procedure AND postoperatively at three months (6 to 20 weeks) after the procedure AND the improvement in back pain is greater than or equal to 5.0 points.

NUMERATOR NOTE: It is recommended that both a preoperative and postoperative assessment tool be administered to the patient increasing the chances that one of the numerator targets will be met. The following situations are those in which the numerator target cannot be reached and Performance Not Met G9943 or G2137 is submitted.

• VAS or Numeric Pain Scale is not administered postoperatively at three months (6 to 20 weeks)
• Back pain is measured using a different patient reported tool
• Postoperative VAS or Numeric Pain Scale is administered less than six weeks or more than 20 weeks (3 month window)
• Postoperative VAS or Numeric value is greater than 3.0 and no valid preoperative to measure improvement
• Postoperative VAS or Numeric value is greater than 3.0 and preoperative VAS or Numeric Pain Scale (to measure improvement) is administered beyond the three month timeframe prior to and including the date of procedure (e.g. 6 months before procedure)

Numerator Options:

Performance Met: Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at three months (6 – 20 weeks) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 OR Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively AND at three months (6 – 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater (G2136)

OR

Performance Not Met: Back pain was not measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or numeric pain scale at three months (6 - 20 weeks) postoperatively (G9943)

OR

Performance Not Met: Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at three months (6 – 20 weeks) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 AND Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively AND at three months (6 – 20 weeks) postoperatively demonstrated less than an improvement of 5.0 points (G2137)

Denominator (Submission Criteria 2)

Patients 18 years of age or older as of October 1 of the denominator identification period who had a lumbar fusion procedure performed during the denominator identification period

Definition:

Denominator Identification Period ― The twelve month period in which eligible patients have a procedure. This allows for enough time for a follow-up assessment to occur during the performance period. The “denominator identification period" includes dates of procedure 10/1/2021 to 9/30/2022

Denominator Criteria (Eligible Cases):

Patients aged ≥ 18 years by October 1 of the Denominator Identification Period

AND

Patient procedure during the denominator identification period (CPT): 22533, 22558, 22586, 22612, 22630, 22633

WITHOUT

Telehealth Modifier (including but not limited to): GQ, GT, 95, POS 02

AND NOT

DENOMINATOR EXCLUSIONS:

Patient had cancer, acute fracture or infection related to the lumbar spine OR patient had neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital lumbar scoliosis: G9945

- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar spine region cancer at the time of the procedure – The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region cancer: C41.2, C41.4, C79.51, C79.52, D16.6, D16.8, D48.0, D49.2

- Patients with a diagnosis of acute lumbar spine region fracture at the time of the procedure – The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region fracture: M48.44XA, M48.45XA, M48.46XA, M48.47XA, M48.48XA, M48.54XA, M48.55XA, M48.56XA, M48.57XA, M48.58XA, S22.060A, S22.060B, S22.061A, S22.061B, S22.062A, S22.062B, S22.068A, S22.068B, S22.069A, S22.069B, S22.070A, S22.070B, S22.071A, S22.071B, S22.072A, S22.072B, S22.078A, S22.078B, S22.079A, S22.079B, S22.080A, S22.080B, S22.081A, S22.081B, S22.082A, S22.082B, S22.088A, S22.088B, S22.089A, S22.089B, S24.103A, S24.104A, S24.113A, S24.114A, S24.133A, S24.134A, S24.143A, S24.144A, S24.153A, S24.154A, S32.000A, S32.000B, S32.001A, S32.001B, S32.002A, S32.002B, S32.008A, S32.008B, S32.009A, S32.009B, S32.010A, S32.010B, S32.011A, S32.011B, S32.012A, S32.012B, S32.018A, S32.018B, S32.019A, S32.019B, S32.020A, S32.020B, S32.021A, S32.021B, S32.022A, S32.022B, S32.028A, S32.028B, S32.029A, S32.029B, S32.030A, S32.030B, S32.031A, S32.031B, S32.032A, S32.032B, S32.038A, S32.038B, S32.039A, S32.039B, S32.040A, S32.040B, S32.041A, S32.041B, S32.042A, S32.042B, S32.048A, S32.048B, S32.049A, S32.049B, S32.050A, S32.050B, S32.051A, S32.051B, S32.052A, S32.052B, S32.058A, S32.058B, S32.059A, S32.059B, S32.10XA, S32.10XB, S32.110A, S32.110B, S32.111A, S32.111B, S32.112A, S32.112B, S32.119A, S32.119B, S32.120A, S32.120B, S32.121A, S32.121B, S32.122A, S32.122B, S32.129A, S32.129B, S32.130A, S32.130B, S32.131A, S32.131B, S32.132A, S32.132B, S32.139A, S32.139B, S32.14XA, S32.14XB, S32.15XA, S32.15XB, S32.16XA, S32.16XB, S32.17XA, S32.17XB, S32.19XA, S32.19XB, S32.2XXA, S32.2XXB, S32.9XXA, S32.9XXB, S34.101A, S34.102A, S34.103A, S34.104A, S34.105A, S34.109A, S34.111A, S34.112A, S34.113A, S34.114A, S34.115A, S34.119A, S34.121A, S34.122A, S34.123A, S34.124A, S34.125A, S34.129A, S34.131A, S34.132A, S34.139A, S34.3XXA

- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar spine region infection at the time of the procedure – The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of lumbar spine region infection: M46.25, M46.26, M46.27, M46.28, M46.35, M46.36, M46.37, M46.38, M46.45, M46.46, M46.47, M46.48, M46.55, M46.56, M46.57, M46.58

- Patients with a diagnosis of lumbar neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital scoliosis – The following codes would be sufficient to define the Denominator Exclusion (G9945) of neuromuscular, idiopathic, or congenital scoliosis: M41.05, M41.06, M41.07, M41.08, M41.45, M41.46, M41.47, M41.115, M41.116, M41.117, M41.125, M41.126, M41.127, M41.25, M41.26, M41.27, Q67.5, Q76.3

Numerator

All eligible patients whose back pain is less than or equal to 3.0 OR an improvement of 5.0 points or greater on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively

Definitions:

Measure Assessment Period (Performance Period) ― The period of time following the procedure date that is in which a postoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score is obtained.

Preoperative Assessment VAS or Numeric Pain ― A preoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score can be obtained from the patient any time up to three months preoperatively, inclusive of the date of the procedure. Assessment scores obtained more than three months before the procedure will not be used for measure calculation. If more than one preoperative VAS or Numeric score was obtained, use the VAS or Numeric score that is the most recent and prior to the procedure.

Postoperative Assessment VAS or Numeric Pain ― A postoperative VAS or Numeric pain scale score can be obtained from the patient one year (9 to 15 months) after the date of procedure. Assessment scores obtained prior to 9 months and after 15 months postoperatively will not be used for measure calculation. If more than one postoperative VAS or Numeric score was obtained during the 9 to 15 months following the procedure, use the most recent score obtained during the allowable timeframe.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ― A “visual analog scale” is a continuous line indicating the continuum between two states of being. A copy of the tool can be obtained below or at the following link Visual Analog Scale Tool.

Numeric Pain Scale- a numeric pain scale is one that asks the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 where zero is “No Pain” and 10 is pain that is intolerable. This type of pain score tool can be administered verbally to the patient and because it does not involve a visual line, multiple modes of administration (e.g., phone, virtual visit, patient portal, verbally in-person, etc.) are acceptable.

Back Pain Target #1 – A patient who is assessed postoperatively at one year (9 to 15 months) after the procedure rates their back pain as less than or equal to 3.0.

Back Pain Target #2 – A patient who does not meet Back Pain Target #1 is assessed both preoperatively within 3 months prior to the procedure AND postoperatively at one year (9 to 15 months) after the procedure AND the improvement in back pain is greater than or equal to 5.0 points.

NUMERATOR NOTE: It is recommended that both a preoperative and postoperative assessment tool be administered to the patient increasing the chances that one of the numerator targets will be met. The following situations are those in which the numerator target cannot be reached and Performance Not Met G9946 or G2139 is submitted.

• VAS Pain or Numeric Scale is not administered postoperatively at one year (9 to 15 months)
• Back pain is measured using a different patient reported tool
• Postop VAS or Numeric Pain Scale is administered less than nine months or more than 15 months (1 year window)
• Postoperative VAS or Numeric value is greater than 3.0 and no valid preop to measure improvement
• Postoperative VAS or Numeric value is greater than 3.0 and preoperative VAS or Numeric Pain Scale (to measure improvement) is administered beyond the three month timeframe prior to and including the date of procedure (e.g. 6 months before procedure)

Numerator Options:

Performance Met: Back pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was less than or equal to 3.0 OR Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively AND at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated an improvement of 5.0 points or greater (G2138)

OR

Performance Not Met: Back pain was not measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively (G9946)

OR

Performance Not Met: Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively was greater than 3.0 AND Back pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric pain scale within three months preoperatively AND at one year (9 to 15 months) postoperatively demonstrated less than an Improvement of 5.0 points (G2139).

Rationale

Mechanical low back functional status (LBP) remains the second most common symptom-related reason for seeing a physician in the United States. Of the US population, 85% will experience an episode of mechanical LBP at some point in their lifetime. For individuals younger than 45 years, LBP represents the most common cause of disability and is generally associated with a work-related injury. It is the third most common reason for disability for individuals older than 45 years. The prevalence of serious mechanical LBP (persisting > 2 week) is 14%, while the prevalence of true sciatica is approximately 2%.

Overall, spine surgery rates have declined slightly from 2002-2007, but the rate of complex fusion procedures increased 15-fold, from 1.3 to 19.9 per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Complications increased with increasing surgical invasiveness, from 2.3% among patients having decompression alone to 5.6% among those having complex fusions.
After adjustment for age, comorbidity, previous spine surgery, and other features, the odds ratio (OR) of life-threatening complications for complex fusion compared with decompression alone was 2.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.50- 3.49). A similar pattern was observed for rehospitalization within 30 days, which occurred for 7.8% of patients undergoing decompression and 13.0% having a complex fusion (adjusted OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.74-2.17). Adjusted mean hospital charges for complex fusion procedures were US $80,888 compared with US $23,724 for decompression alone (Deyo, R. JAMA 2010).

The MNCM Spine Surgery Measure development workgroup developed patient reported outcome measures for two populations of patients undergoing different lumbar spine procedures, a more complex procedure (lumbar fusion) and a second procedure that represented the most common procedure CPT code 63030 for the most common diagnosis of disc herniation. In 2018, the development workgroup reconvened and redesigned the measure construct to a target-based measure and additionally expanded the denominator for this measure to include all lumbar discectomy laminectomy procedures.

Rationale for measure construct and calculation change:
Target score based on 2016 study in the Spine Journal Fetke, TF et al “What level of pain are patients happy to live with after surgery for lumbar degenerative disorders?” This study compared the Core Outcomes Measures Index (COMI) and symptom well-being questions to two 0 to 10 graphic ratings scales for back and leg pain. Most spine interventions decrease pain but rarely do they totally eliminate it. Reporting of the percent of patients achieving a pain score equivalent to the "acceptable symptom state" may represent a more stringent target for denoting surgical success in the treatment of painful spinal disorders. For disc herniation, this is less than or equal to 2, and for other degenerative pathologies it is less than or equal to 3. The OR benchmark of change (5.0) derived from MNCM data (3 years); the average change in points of patients that did achieve the target of less than or equal to 3.0.

Rationale for the expansion of the denominator and addition of exclusions:
During the original development of this measure, the intent was to have a homogeneous population procedure that represented the most common procedure CPT code 63030 for the most common diagnosis of disc herniation. This strategy did not translate well from ICD-9 to ICD-10 diagnosis codes and the volume of eligible denominator patients dropped significantly. In 2018, the MNCM development workgroup reconvened for measure construct redesign and adopted a broader denominator population; all applicable discectomy laminectomy procedure codes and not limited by a type of diagnosis (includes all). With this decision, the workgroup decided to adopt the same exclusions for the spine fusion population and added exclusions for spine related cancer, acute fracture or infection, neuromuscular, idiopathic or congenital scoliosis.

Clinical Recommendation Statements

Journal of Neurosurgery guidelines indicate that there is no evidence that conflicts with the previous recommendations published in the original version of the guideline. This recommendation is for the use of reliable, valid and responsive outcomes instrument to assess functional outcome in lumbar spinal fusion patients. It is recommended that when assessing functional outcome in patients treated for low-back pain due to degenerative disease, a reliable, valid, and responsive outcomes instrument, such as the disease-specific Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), be used (Level II evidence).

MEASURE CALCULATION EXAMPLE: