2026 #268 MIPS Measure Counseling for Women of Childbearing Potential with Epilepsy

2026 COLLECTION TYPE:

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

‌MEASURE TYPE:

Process

‌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:

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 with epilepsy. 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.

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 will be used if the measure is submitted more than once.

‌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:

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 pre-menstrual, 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, G40.841, G40.842, G40.843, G40.844, 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): 98000, 98001, 98002, 98003, 98004, 98005, 98006, 98007, 98008, 98009, 98010, 98011, 98012, 98013, 98014, 98015, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99242*, 99243*, 99244*, 99245*, 99421, 99422, 99423

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.