What is the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System?

The Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) was a reporting program that used a combination of incentive payments and negative payment adjustments to promote reporting of quality information by eligible healthcare professionals. Though PQRS ended in 2016 and was replaced by the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), it established the foundation for quality measurement in Medicare. Under PQRS, providers reported on specific quality measures related to patient care and received financial incentives or penalties based on their participation.

Why the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System mattered

• Promoted quality measurement: Established systematic tracking of healthcare quality metrics
• Influenced provider payments: Created financial incentives for quality reporting
• Paved way for value-based care: Set the stage for current quality payment programs

How Solace can help

A Solace advocate can help you understand how legacy PQRS requirements may still affect your current providers, navigate the transition to newer quality programs like MIPS, and identify physicians participating in quality reporting initiatives that may indicate higher standards of care.