Healthcare Webinar: What Every Physician Practice Should Know about PQRI in 2008

Action by Congress last month delayed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS') planned 10.1 percent decrease in 2008 Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians. However, given CMS' increased focus on value-based purchasing, physician organizations are encouraged to participate in CMS' Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) to potentially recoup any future payment cuts. The how-to's, challenges and benefits of PQRI participation will be addressed during "Physician Quality Reporting in 2008: What Every Physician Practice Should Know," a January 22, 2008 live webinar presented by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN).

Manasquan, NJ (PRWEB) January 2, 2008 -- Action by Congress last month delayed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS') planned 10.1 percent decrease in 2008 Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians. However, given CMS' increased focus on value-based purchasing, physician organizations are encouraged to participate in CMS' Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) to potentially recoup any future payment cuts. The how-to's, challenges and benefits of PQRI participation will be addressed during "Physician Quality Reporting in 2008: What Every Physician Practice Should Know," a January 22, 2008 live webinar presented by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN).

Dr. Bruce Bagley, medical director of quality improvement for the American Academy of Family Physicians, returns to HIN with another update on PQRI. Besides the potential to earn bonuses of up to 1.5 percent of Medicare reimbursements, Dr. Bagley says PQRI offers participating physicians an opportunity to evaluate and recalibrate current practices. During "Physician Quality Reporting in 2008: What Every Physician Practice Should Know," a 90-minute webinar on January 22, 2008, Dr. Bagley and other PQRI experts will review the 2008 measures, describe the merits of participation and prescribe ways to get fellow physicians on board with PQRI.

For webinar details, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?pqri2008rel

News facts:

-- Featured Healthcare Experts: Dr. Bruce Bagley, medical director of quality improvement with the American Academy of Family Physicians; Sue Kincer, consultant and certified professional coder with Pershing Yoakley & Associates; and Lorraine K. Larrance, consulting senior manager with Pershing Yoakley & Associates.

-- Webinar Highlights: The final 2008 PQRI measures, including two new measures on electronic health records and e-prescribing; lessons learned from practices participating in PQRI in 2007; the use of registry-based data to submit the measures; motivation behind PQRI; engaging reluctant physicians in the initiative and conducting internal office PQRI audits to improve reporting and performance.

-- Target Audience: CEOs, CFOs, financial managers, chief medical officers, chief nursing officers, medical directors, quality improvement executives, managed care contracting executives, practice management executives, health plan executives, strategic planning directors, consultants and physician organization leaders.

-- Webinar Formats: 90-minute live webinar on January 22, 2008 includes a 30-minute Q&A; "On-Demand" rebroadcast available January 24, 2008; 90-minute recording on CD-ROM with printed transcript available February 12, 2008. For webinar details, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?pqri2008rel

Quotes attributable to Melanie Matthews, HIN Executive VP and COO:

"Physicians who participate in PQRI are learning the ropes of quality reporting as well as obtaining invaluable feedback on the care they are providing. With the expectation that PQRI will ultimately move from a pay-for-reporting to a pay-for-performance program, it's wise for physician organizations to sign on now while the initiative is still voluntary."

Please contact Patricia Donovan to arrange an interview or to obtain additional quotes.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network:
HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info @ hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

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