2021 HM11: Outcomes of Treatment of Subjective Tinnitus

Measure Description

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older who are screened for bothersome subjective tinnitus AND, if patient reports symptoms, assessed with clinical evaluation for tinnitus severity and impact on hearing-related quality of life (HRQoL) using a validated self-assessment tool AND, if identified with tinnitus that impacts the patients HRQoL, receive a tinnitus-related care plan, and tinnitus-related intervention(s), treatment(s), or management AND who report a meaningful clinically important difference (MCID) improvement in the impact of tinnitus on the patient’s HRQoL within 12 months of initial identification.

Denominator

Strata 1: Patients aged 18 years and older with a patient encounter

Strata 2: Patients aged 18 years and older screened for presence of bothersome subjective tinnitus, reporting bothersome tinnitus symptoms

Strata 3: Patients aged 18 years and older assessed with clinical evaluation for tinnitus severity and a validated self-assessment tool (THI, TRQ, TFI) to determine the impact of tinnitus on their HRQoL

Strata 4: Patients aged 18 years and older reporting bothersome tinnitus that is impacting their HRQoL who receive a tinnitus-related care plan AND tinnitus-related intervention(s), treatment(s), or management

Numerator

Strata 1: Patients screened for presence of bothersome subjective tinnitus

Strata 2: Patients referred for further investigation OR assessed with clinical evaluation for tinnitus severity and a validated self-assessment tool (THI, TRQ, TFI) to determine the impact of tinnitus on their HRQoL

Strata 3: Patients who receive a tinnitus-related care plan AND tinnitus-related intervention(s), treatment(s), or management

Strata 4: Patients who report a MCID improvement in the impact of tinnitus on the HRQoL within 12 months of initial identification

Denominator Exclusions

Strata 1: Documentation of medical reason for not performing otoscopy, referred to another provider

OR

Patient declined otoscopy procedure

Strata 2: Excessive or impacting cerumen was not removed prior to audiologic or vestibular evaluation documentation

Denominator Exceptions

Strata 1: Patient reports bothersome tinnitus and is NOT screened with a tinnitus screening tool; reason provided

Strata 2:Patient declined to complete a validated self-assessment tool to determine impact of tinnitus on HRQoL

OR

Documentation of medical reason(s) for patient not being assessed with a validated self-assessment tool to determine the impact of tinnitus on HRQoL and clinical evaluation for tinnitus severity

Strata 3: Patient received a tinnitus-related care plan and declined tinnitus-related intervention(s), treatment(s) or management within 12 months of tinnitus evaluation and validated self-assessment completion.

Strata 4: Patient declined to complete a post-intervention(s) validated self-assessment tool to document the impact of the bothersome tinnitus on HRQoL within 12 months of tinnitus evaluation and validated self-assessment completion.

OR

Patient is continuing with tinnitus management with additional tinnitus intervention, treatment, and/or management options recommended within 12 months of tinnitus evaluation and validated self-assessment completion.

Numerator Exclusions

None

NQF ID Number

N/A

NQS Domain

Effective Clinical Care

High Priority Measure

Yes

Includes Telehealth?

Yes

Inverse Measure

No

Proportional Measure

Yes

Continuous Variable Measure

No

Ratio Measure

No

Number of performance rates to be calculated and submitted

4

Risk-Adjusted Status?

No