2026 #259 MIPS Measure Rate of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) of Small or Moderate Non-Ruptured Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA) without Major Complications (Discharged to Home by Post-Operative Day #2)

2026 COLLECTION TYPE:

MERIT-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM (MIPS) CLINICAL QUALITY MEASURE (CQM)

‌MEASURE TYPE:

Outcome – High Priority

‌DESCRIPTION:

Percent of patients undergoing endovascular repair of small or moderate non-ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) that do not experience a major complication (discharged to home no later than post-operative day #2).

‌INSTRUCTIONS:

Reporting Frequency:

This measure is to be submitted each time a denominator eligible procedure as defined in the denominator criteria is performed.

Intent and Clinician Applicability:

This measure is intended to reflect the quality of services provided for patients who undergo an endovascular repair of AAA. This measure may be submitted by MIPS eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions as defined by the numerator based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.

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 procedure measure is submitted each time a procedure is performed during the performance period. The most recent quality data code will be used if the measure is submitted more than once.

Telehealth:

NOT TELEHEALTH ELIGIBLE: This measure is not appropriate for nor applicable to the telehealth setting. This measure is procedure based and therefore doesn’t allow for the denominator criteria to be conducted via telehealth. It would be appropriate to remove these patients from 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:

All endovascular repairs of non-ruptured, infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Denominator Criteria (Eligible Cases):

Patients aged ≥ 18 years on date of encounter

AND

Diagnosis for non-rupture, infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms on date of encounter (ICD-10-CM): I71.40, I71.43

AND

Patient procedure during the performance period (CPT): 34701, 34703, 34705

AND NOT

DENOMINATOR EXCLUSIONS:

For women:

Aortic aneurysm 5.5 – 5.9 cm maximum diameter on centerline formatted CT or minor diameter on axial formatted CT: 9003F

OR

Aortic aneurysm 6.0 cm or greater maximum diameter on centerline formatted CT or minor diameter on axial formatted CT: 9004F

OR

For men:

Aortic aneurysm 6.0 cm or greater maximum diameter on centerline formatted CT or minor diameter on axial formatted CT: 9004F

‌NUMERATOR:

Patients discharged to home no later than post-operative day #2 following EVAR of AAA.

Definition:

Home – For purposes of submitting this measure, “home” is the point of origin prior to hospital admission prior to procedure of AAA. For example, if the patient comes from a skilled facility and returns to the skilled facility post AAA repair, this would meet criteria for discharged to home.

Numerator Options:

Performance Met: Patient discharged to home no later than post-operative day #2 following EVAR (G8826)

OR

Performance Not Met: Patient not discharged to home by post-operative day #2 following EVAR (G8833)

RATIONALE:

Elective repair of a small or moderate sized AAA is a prophylactic procedure and the mortality/morbidity of the procedure must be contrasted with the risk of rupture over time. Surgeons should select patients for intervention who have a reasonable life expectancy and who do not have a high surgical risk. Discharge to home within two days of endovascular AAA repair is an indicator of patients who were not frail prior to the procedure and who did not experience a major complication. The proposed measure will therefore serve as an indicator of both appropriateness and overall outcome.