2026 # 113 MIPS Measure Colorectal Cancer Screening

2026 COLLECTION TYPE:

MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM (MIPS) CLINICAL QUALITY MEASURE (CQM)–MIPS VALUE PATHWAY (MVP) REPORTING ONLY

‌MEASURE TYPE:‌ Process

Description:

‌Percentage of patients 45-75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer.

Instructions:

Reporting Frequency:
This measure is to be submitted a minimum of once per performance period for denominator eligible cases as defined in the denominator criteria.

Intent and Clinician Applicability:
This measure is intended to reflect the quality of services provided for patients 45-75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer. There is no diagnosis associated with this measure. Performance for this measure is not limited to the performance period. This measure may be submitted by Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions as defined by the numerator based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.

The intent of the exclusion for individuals age 66 and older residing in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, is to exclude individuals who may have limited life expectancy and increased frailty where the benefit of the process may not exceed the risks. This exclusion is not intended as a clinical recommendation regarding whether the measures process is inappropriate for specific populations, instead the exclusion allows clinicians to engage in shared decision making with patients about the benefits and risks of screening when an individual has limited life expectancy.

Measure Strata and Performance Rates:
This measure contains one strata defined by a single submission criteria.
This measure produces a single performance rate.

Implementation Considerations:
For the purposes of MIPS implementation, this patient-process measure is submitted a minimum of once per patient during the performance period. The most advantageous quality data code (QDC) will be used if the measure is submitted more than once.

This measure specification is only available for MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) reporting and is not available for traditional MIPS reporting.

Telehealth:
TELEHEALTH ELIGIBLE: This measure is appropriate for and applicable to the telehealth setting. Patient encounters conducted via telehealth using encounter code(s) found in the denominator encounter criteria are allowed for this measure. Therefore, if the patient meets all denominator criteria for a telehealth encounter, it would be appropriate to include them in the denominator eligible patient population. Telehealth eligibility is at the measure level for inclusion within the denominator eligible patient population and based on the measure specification definitions which are independent of changes to coding and/or billing practices.

Measure Submission:
The quality data codes listed do not need to be submitted by MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, or third party intermediaries that utilize this collection type for submissions; however, these codes may be submitted for those third party intermediaries that utilize Medicare Part B claims data. The coding provided to identify the measure criteria: Denominator or Numerator, may be an example of coding that could be used to identify patients that meet the intent of this clinical topic. When implementing this measure, please refer to the ‘Reference Coding’ section to determine if other codes or code languages that meet the intent of the criteria may also be used within the medical record to identify and/or assess patients. For more information regarding Application Programming Interface (API), please refer to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website.

Denominator:

Patients 45-75 years of age with a visit during the measurement period.

Denominator Note:
To assess the age for exclusions, the patient’s age on the date of the encounter should be used.

*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 45 to 75 years of age on date of encounter

And

Patient encounter during the performance period (CPT or HCPCS): 98000, 98001, 98002, 98003, 98004, 98005, 98006, 98007, 98008, 98009, 98010, 98011,98012, 98013, 98014, 98015, 98016, 98979, 98980, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99341, 99342, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99386*, 99387*, 99421, 99422, 99423, 99457, 99396*, 99397*, 99470, G0402, G0438, G0439, G2250, G2251, G2252

And Not

Denominator Exclusions:

Patients with a diagnosis or past history of total colectomy or colorectal cancer: G9711

Or

Patient was provided hospice services any time during the measurement period: G9710

Or

Patient was provided palliative care services any time during the measurement period: G9993

Or

Patient age 66 or older in Institutional Special Needs Plans (SNP) or residing in long-term care with POS code 32, 33, 34, 54, or 56 for more than 90 consecutive days during the measurement period: G9901

Or

Patients 66 years of age and older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period AND a dispensed medication for dementia during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement period: G2100

Or

Patients 66 years of age and older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period AND an advanced illness diagnosis during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement period: G2101

Reference Coding/Medication:
Table 1: Denominator Exclusion for a dispensed medication for dementia [G2100] is defined by the following Dementia Medications only:

Denominator Exclusion for Frailty [G2100 and G2101] is defined by the following coding only:
99504, 99509, E0100, E0105, E0130, E0135, E0140, E0141, E0143, E0144, E0147, E0148, E0149, E0163, E0165, E0167, E0168, E0170, E0171, E0250, E0251, E0255, E0256, E0260, E0261, E0265, E0266, E0270, E0290, E0291, E0292, E0293, E0294, E0295, E0296, E0297, E0301, E0302, E0303, E0304, E0424, E0425, E0430, E0431, E0433, E0434, E0435, E0439, E0440, E0441, E0442, E0443, E0444, E0462, E0465, E0466, E0470, E0471, E0472, E0561, E0562, E1130, E1140, E1150, E1160, E1161, E1240, E1250, E1260, E1270, E1280, E1285, E1290, E1295, E1296, E1297, E1298, G0162, G0299, G0300, G0493, G0494, S0271, S0311, S9123, S9124, T1000, T1001, T1002, T1003, T1004, T1005, T1019, T1020, T1021, T1022, T1030, T1031, L89.000, L89.001, L89.002, L89.003, L89.004, L89.006, L89.009, L89.010, L89.011, L89.012, L89.013, L89.014, L89.016, L89.019, L89.020, L89.021, L89.022, L89.023, L89.024, L89.026, L89.029, L89.100, L89.101, L89.102, L89.103, L89.104, L89.106, L89.109, L89.110, L89.111, L89.112, L89.113, L89.114, L89.116, L89.119, L89.120, L89.121, L89.122, L89.123, L89.124, L89.126, L89.129, L89.130, L89.131, L89.132, L89.133, L89.134, L89.136, L89.139, L89.140, L89.141, L89.142, L89.143, L89.144, L89.146, L89.149, L89.150, L89.151, L89.152, L89.153, L89.154, L89.156, L89.159, L89.200, L89.201, L89.202, L89.203, L89.204, L89.206, L89.209, L89.210, L89.211, L89.212, L89.213, L89.214, L89.216, L89.219, L89.220, L89.221, L89.222, L89.223, L89.224, L89.226, L89.229, L89.300, L89.301, L89.302, L89.303, L89.304, L89.306, L89.309, L89.310, L89.311, L89.312, L89.313, L89.314, L89.316, L89.319, L89.320, L89.321, L89.322, L89.323, L89.324, L89.326, L89.329, L89.40, L89.41, L89.42, L89.43, L89.44, L89.45, L89.46, L89.500, L89.501, L89.502, L89.503, L89.504, L89.506, L89.509, L89.510, L89.511, L89.512, L89.513, L89.514, L89.516, L89.519, L89.520, L89.521, L89.522, L89.523, L89.524, L89.526, L89.529, L89.600, L89.601, L89.602, L89.603, L89.604, L89.606, L89.609, L89.610, L89.611, L89.612, L89.613, L89.614, L89.616, L89.619, L89.620, L89.621, L89.622, L89.623, L89.624, L89.626, L89.629, L89.810, L89.811, L89.812, L89.813, L89.814, L89.816, L89.819, L89.890, L89.891, L89.892, L89.893, L89.894, L89.896, L89.899, L89.90, L89.91, L89.92, L89.93, L89.94, L89.95, L89.96, M62.50, M62.81, M62.84, R26.2, R26.89, R26.9, R29.6, R53.1, R53.81, R54, R62.7, R63.4, R63.6, R64, W01.0XXA, W01.0XXD, W01.0XXS, W01.10XA, W01.10XD, W01.10XS, W01.110A, W01.110D, W01.110S, W01.111A, W01.111D, W01.111S, W01.118A, W01.118D, W01.118S, W01.119A, W01.119D, W01.119S, W01.190A, W01.190D, W01.190S, W01.198A, W01.198D, W01.198S, W06.XXXA, W06.XXXD, W06.XXXS, W07.XXXA, W07.XXXD, W07.XXXS, W08.XXXA, W08.XXXD, W08.XXXS, W10.0XXA, W10.0XXD, W10.0XXS, W10.1XXA, W10.1XXD, W10.1XXS, W10.2XXA, W10.2XXD, W10.2XXS, W10.8XXA, W10.8XXD, W10.8XXS, W10.9XXA, W10.9XXD, W10.9XXS, W18.00XA, W18.00XD, W18.00XS, W18.02XA, W18.02XD, W18.02XS, W18.09XA, W18.09XD, W18.09XS, W18.11XA, W18.11XD, W18.11XS, W18.12XA, W18.12XD, W18.12XS, W18.2XXA, W18.2XXD, W18.2XXS, W18.30XA, W18.30XD, W18.30XS, W18.31XA, W18.31XD, W18.31XS, W18.39XA, W18.39XD, W18.39XS, W19.XXXA, W19.XXXD, W19.XXXS, Y92.199, Z59.3, Z73.6, Z74.01, Z74.09, Z74.1, Z74.2, Z74.3, Z74.8, Z74.9, Z91.81, Z99.11, Z99.3, Z99.81, Z99.89

Denominator Exclusion for Advanced Illness [G2091] is defined by the following coding only:
A81.00, A81.01, A81.09, C25.0, C25.1, C25.2, C25.3, C25.4, C25.7, C25.8, C25.9, C71.0, C71.1, C71.2, C71.3, C71.4, C71.5, C71.6, C71.7, C71.8, C71.9, C77.0, C77.1, C77.2, C77.3, C77.4, C77.5, C77.8, C77.9, C78.00, C78.01, C78.02, C78.1, C78.2, C78.30, C78.39, C78.4, C78.5, C78.6, C78.7, C78.80, C78.89, C79.00, C79.01, C79.02, C79.10, C79.11, C79.19, C79.2, C79.31, C79.32, C79.40, C79.49, C79.51, C79.52, C79.60, C79.61, C79.62, C79.70, C79.71, C79.72, C79.81, C79.82, C79.89, C79.9, C91.00, C91.02, C92.00, C92.02, C93.00, C93.02, C93.90, C93.92, C93.Z0, C93.Z2, C94.30, C94.32, F01.50, F01.511, F01.518, F01.52, F01.53, F01.54, F01.A0, F01.A11, F01.A18, F01.A2, F01.A3, F01.A4, F01.B0, F01.B11, F01.B18, F01.B2, F01.B3, F01.B4,
F01.C0, F01.C11, F01.C18, F01.C2, F01.C3, F01.C4, F02.80, F02.811, F02.818, F02.82, F02.83, F02.84, F02.A0, F02.A11, F02.A18, F02.A2, F02.A3, F02.A4, F02.B0, F02.B11, F02.B18, F02.B2, F02.B3, F02.B4, F02.C0, F02.C11, F02.C18, F02.C2, F02.C3, F02.C4, F03.90, F03.911, F03.918, F03.92, F03.93, F03.94, F03.A0, F03.A11, F03.A18, F03.A2, F03.A3, F03.A4, F03.B0, F03.B11, F03.B18, F03.B2, F03.B3, F03.B4, F03.C0, F03.C11, F03.C18, F03.C2, F03.C3, F03.C4, F04, F10.27, F10.96, F10.97, G10, G12.21, , G20.A1, G20.A2, G20.B1, G20.B2, G20.C, G30.0, G30.1, G30.8, G30.9, G31.01, G31.09, G31.83, G35.A, G35.B0, G35.B1, G35.B2, G35.C0, G35.C1, G35.C2, G35.D, I09.81, I11.0, I12.0, I13.0, I13.11, I13.2, I50.1, I50.20, I50.21, I50.22, I50.23, I50.30, I50.31, I50.32, I50.33, I50.40, I50.41, I50.42, I50.43, I50.810, I50.811, I50.812, I50.813, I50.814, I50.82, I50.83, I50.84, I50.89, I50.9, J43.0, J43.1, J43.2, J43.8, J43.9, J68.4, J84.10, J84.112, J84.170, J84.178, J96.10, J96.11, J96.12, J96.20, J96.21, J96.22, J96.90, J96.91, J96.92, J98.2, J98.3, K70.10, K70.11, K70.2, K70.30, K70.31, K70.40, K70.41, K70.9, K74.00, K74.01, K74.02, K74.1, K74.2, K74.4, K74.5, K74.60, K74.69, N18.5, N18.6

Numerator:

Patients with one or more screenings for colorectal cancer. Appropriate screenings are defined by any one of the following criteria:
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) during the measurement period
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy during the measurement period or the four years prior to the measurement period
• Colonoscopy during the measurement period or the nine years prior to the measurement period
• Computed tomography (CT) colonography during the measurement period or the four years prior to the measurement period.
• Stool DNA (sDNA) with FIT test during the measurement period or the two years prior to the measurement period.

Definition:
Reviewed – to meet the quality action, there must be documentation in the medical record that the clinician reviewed the colorectal screening report. The colorectal screening report may also be provided by the patient for the clinician’s review during the visit and should be documented in the medical record.

Numerator Instructions:
Do not count digital rectal exam (DRE)-acquired fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) performed in an office setting or performed on a sample collected via DRE.

Please note the measure may include screenings performed outside the age range of patients referenced in the initial population. Screenings that occur prior to the measurement period are valid to meet measure criteria.

Numerator Note:
Patient reported procedures and diagnostic studies, when recorded in the medical record, are acceptable for meeting the numerator. While reviewing the results with the patient is not required for the purposes of reporting this measure, it is nonetheless best practice.

Numerator Options:

Performance Met: Colorectal cancer screening results documented and reviewed (3017F)

Or

Performance Not Met: Colorectal cancer screening results were not documented and reviewed, reason not otherwise specified (3017F with 8P)

Rationale:

Colorectal cancer represents eight percent of all new cancer cases in the United States. In 2020, there are an estimated 147,950 new cases of colorectal cancer and an estimated 53,200 deaths attributed to it. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 4.2 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point during their lifetimes. For most adults, older age is the most important risk factor for colorectal cancer, although being male and black are also associated with higher incidence and mortality. Colorectal cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people 65 to 74 years old (Howlader et al., 2020).

Screening can be effective for finding precancerous lesions (polyps) that could later become malignant, and for detecting early cancers that can be more easily and effectively treated. Precancerous polyps usually take about 10 to 15 years to develop into colorectal cancer, and most can be found and removed before turning into cancer. The fiveyear relative survival rate for people whose colorectal cancer is found in the early stage before it has spread is about 90 percent (SEER, 2022).