2021 MIPS Measure #286: Dementia: Safety Concern Screening and Follow-Up for Patients with Dementia

Measure Description

Percentage of patients with dementia or their caregiver(s) for whom there was a documented safety concerns screening in two domains of risk: 1) dangerousness to self or others and 2) environmental risks; and if safety concerns screening was positive in the last 12 months, there was documentation of mitigation recommendations, including but not limited to referral to other resources

Instructions

This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per performance period for patients with a diagnosis of dementia seen 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 (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 with dementiaDENOMINATOR 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 patients regardless of age

AND

Diagnosis for dementia (ICD-10-CM): A52.17, A81.00, A81.01, A81.89, F01.50, F01.51, F02.80, F02.81, F03.90, F03.91, F05, F10.27, G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, G30.9, G31.01, G31.09, G31.83, G31.85, G31.89, G94

AND

Patient encounter during the performance period (CPT): 90791, 90792, 90832, 90834, 90837, 96116, 96130, 96132, 96136, 96138, 96146, 96156, 96158, 96164, 96167, 96170, 97161, 97162, 97163, 97164, 97165, 97166, 97167, 97168, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99221, 99222, 99223, 99231, 99232, 99233, 99238, 99239, 99251*, 99252*, 99253*, 99254*, 99255*, 99281, 99282, 99283, 99284, 99285, 99304, 99305, 99306, 99307, 99308, 99309, 99310, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99334, 99335, 99336, 99337, 99339, 99340, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99487, 99490, 99497

Numerator

Patients with dementia or their caregiver(s) for whom there was a documented safety concerns screening in two domains of risk: 1) dangerousness to self or others and 2) environmental risks; and if safety concerns screening was positive in the last 12 months, there was documentation of mitigation recommendations, including but not limited to referral to other resources

Definitions:

Caregiver(s) – Person(s) who provide care to those who need supervision or assistance in illness or disability. They may provide the care in the home, in a hospital, or in an institution. Although caregiver(s) include trained medical, nursing, and other health personnel, the concept also refers to parents, spouses, or other family members, friends, members of the clergy, teachers, social workers, fellow patients.

Safety Concerns – Safety concerns include, but are not limited to:

• Fall risk
• Gait/balance
• Medication management
• Financial management
• Home safety risks that could arise from cooking or smoking
• Physical aggression posing threat to self, family caregiver, or others
• Wandering
• Access to firearms or other weapons
• Access to potentially dangerous materials
• Being left alone in home or locked in room
• Inability to respond rapidly to crisis/household emergencies
• Driving
• Operation of hazardous equipment
• Suicidality
• Abuse or neglect

Numerator Instructions:Mitigation Recommendations should include a discussion with the patient and their caregiver(s) regarding one or more of the above common safety concerns and potential risks to the patient. When appropriate, it should also include a mitigation recommendation or referral or orders for a home safety evaluation.

Note: For nursing home patients, different safety concerns might apply.

A number of organizations have developed educational materials that are recommended to aid implementation of the measure. These materials/tools include:

• Alzheimer’s Association Safety Topics. Available on the Alzheimer’s Association website. Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center’s Home Safety for the Alzheimer’s Patient Available on the National Institute on Aging website.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of safety concerns in the two domains pertinent to this measure. To meet measure requirements a patient’s medical record must have documentation of being screened on at least one concern from each of the two domains.

Dangerousness to self (patient) or others (caregivers and other individuals)

• Medication misuse
• Physical aggressiveness
• Wandering, including addressing precautions that may include physical measures (e.g., locks, fences or hedges), video surveillance, GPS monitoring and Safe Return programs, personal companions, schedule modifications (e.g., adult day care and day programs), rehabilitative measures, and risk mitigation strategies
• Inability to respond rapidly to crisis/household emergencies
• Financial mismanagement, including being involved in “scams”
• Other concerns raised by patient or their caregiver

Environmental risks

• Home safety risks that could arise from cooking or smoking
• Access to firearms or other weapons
• Access to potentially dangerous chemicals and other materials
• Access to and operation of tools and equipment
• Trip hazards in the home increasing the risk of falling
• Other concerns raised by patient or their caregiver

NUMERATOR NOTE: The 12 month look back period is defined as 12 months from the date of the denominator eligible encounter. Denominator Exception(s) are determined on the date of the denominator eligible encounter.

Numerator Options:

Performance Met:

Safety concerns screen provided and if positive then documented mitigation recommendations (G9922)

OR

Performance Met:

Safety concerns screen provided and negative (G9923)

OR

Denominator Exception:

Documentation patient unable to communicate and informant not available (G2183)

OR

Performance Not Met:

Safety concerns screening not provided, reason not otherwise specified (G9925)

OR

Performance Not Met:

Safety concerns screening positive screen is without provision of mitigation recommendations, including but not limited to referral to other resources (G9926)

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