Measure Description
Percentage of all patients of childbearing potential (12 years and older) diagnosed with epilepsy who were counseled at least once a year about how epilepsy and its treatment may affect contraception and pregnancy.
Instructions
This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per performance period for patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy during the performance 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: Patient encounters for this measure conducted via telehealth (including but not limited to encounters coded with GQ, GT, 95, POS 02, POS 10) 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 females, including all individuals of childbearing potential (12 years and older) with a diagnosis of epilepsy
Definition:
Female Unable to Bear Children – For the purposes of this measure, this includes patients who are premenstrual, post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or have reproductive organs absent, and is represented by code M1016.
DENOMINATOR NOTE: *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):
All females age 12 years and older
AND
Diagnosis for Epilepsy (ICD-10-CM): G40.001, G40.009, G40.011, G40.019, G40.101, G40.109, G40.111, G40.119, G40.201, G40.209, G40.211, G40.219, G40.301, G40.309, G40.311, G40.319, G40.401, G40.409, G40.411, G40.419, G40.501, G40.509, G40.801, G40.802, G40.803, G40.804, G40.811, G40.812, G40.813, G40.814, G40.821, G40.822, G40.823, G40.824, G40.901, G40.909, G40.911, G40.919, G40.A01, G40.A09, G40.A11, G40.A19, G40.B01, G40.B09, G40.B11, G40.B19, G40.C01, G40.C09, G40.C11, G40.C19
AND
Patient encounter during the performance period (CPT): 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99242*, 99243*, 99244*, 99245*, 99421, 99422, 99423, 99441, 99442, 99443
AND NOT
DENOMINATOR EXCLUSION:
Female Patients Unable to Bear Children: M1016
Numerator
Female patients or caregivers counseled at least once a year about how epilepsy and its treatment may affect contraception and pregnancy
Definition:
Counseling – “Counseling” must include a discussion of at least two of the following three “counseling” topics:
- Need for folic acid supplementation,
- Drug to drug interactions with contraception medication,
- Potential anti-seizure medications effect(s) on fetal/child development and/or pregnancy
Numerator Options:
Performance Met: Counseling for women of childbearing potential with epilepsy (4340F)
OR
Performance Not Met: Counseling about epilepsy specific safety issues provided to patient or caregiver was not performed, reason not otherwise specified (4340F with 8P)
Rationale
Epilepsy is associated with reduced fertility, increased pregnancy risks, and risks for malformations in the infant. Treatment of seizures with anti-seizure medications may alter hormone levels, render oral contraceptives less effective and may interfere with embryonic and fetal development. Certain anti-seizure medications may have specific malformation risks. Folic acid supplementation, monotherapy for epilepsy, using lower doses of medication when possible, and proper obstetrical, prenatal and pre-pregnancy care all should be discussed with the patient so they understand the risks involved and how to mitigate these risks.
Clinical Recommendation Statements
[AED=Antiepileptic Drugs; WWE= Women with Epilepsy; MCMs=major congenital malformations; VPA=valproate; PHT=phenytoin; LTG=lamotrigine; CBZ=carbamazepine; PHT=phenytoin; PB=phenobarbital]
- There is probably no substantially increased risk (greater than two times expected) of late pregnancy bleeding for WWE taking AEDs (Level B). Neurology 2009; 73(2): 126-132.
- There is probably no moderately increased risk (greater than 1.5 times expected) of premature contractions or premature labor and delivery for WWE taking AEDs (Level B). Neurology 2009; 73(2): 126-132.
- Seizure freedom for at least 9 months prior to pregnancy is probably associated with a high likelihood (84%–92%) of remaining seizure-free during pregnancy (Level B). Neurology 2009; 73(2): 126-132.
- Counseling of WWE who are contemplating pregnancy should reflect that there is probably no increased risk of reduced cognition in the offspring of WWE not taking AEDs (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- If possible, avoidance of the use of VPA as part of polytherapy during the first trimester of pregnancy should be considered to decrease the risk of MCMs (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- To reduce the risk of MCMs, the use of VPA during the first trimester of pregnancy should be avoided, if possible, compared to the use of CBZ (Level A). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- To reduce the risk of MCMs, avoidance of the use of polytherapy with VPA during the first trimester of pregnancy, if possible, should be considered, compared to polytherapy without VPA (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- Avoidance of the use of VPA, if possible, should be considered to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and facial clefts (Level B) and may be considered to reduce the risk of hypospadias (Level C). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- CBZ exposure probably does not produce cognitive impairment in offspring of WWE (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- Avoiding VPA in WWE during pregnancy, if possible, should be considered to reduce the risk of poor cognitive outcomes (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- For WWE who are pregnant, avoidance of VPA, if possible, should be considered compared to CBZ to reduce the risk of poor cognitive outcomes (Level B). Neurology; 73(2): 133–141.
- The fact that PB, PRM, PHT, CBZ, LVT, VPA, GBP, LTG, OXC, and TPM cross the placenta may be factored into the clinical decision regarding the necessity of AED treatment for a woman with epilepsy (Level B for PB, PRM, PHT, CBZ, LVT, and VPA, and Level C for GBP, LTG, OXC, and TPM). Neurology 2009; 73(2): 142-149.