McKesson Approved as QCDR for 2021 MIPS Program Year
Eight custom measures receive approval, raising the bar on oncology patient care
IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the fifth consecutive year, McKesson has received approval from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR). As a CMS-approved QCDR, Practice Insights, a practice performance analytics tool powered by McKesson’s new oncology technology and insights business Ontada, can collect and report clinical data on behalf of clinicians for both MIPS and custom QCDR quality measures to drive improvements in quality and cost of care. The designation enables iKnowMed℠ electronic health record (EHR) users to efficiently submit data directly to CMS without engaging a separate registry vendor, streamlining data submission and minimizing the need for additional administrative resources.
In addition, CMS approved all eight of the custom QCDR measures developed by The US Oncology Network and submitted as part of McKesson’s 2021 application, confirming the importance of these measures to the quality and integrity of oncology care.
“As a QCDR, we are pleased to be recognized as a CMS-approved organization that collects, reports and analyzes medical data with the ultimate aim to improve the quality of patient care,” said Marcus Neubauer, MD, chief medical officer of The US Oncology Network, a network supported by McKesson of more than 1,380 independent, community-based physicians. “The approval of eight quality measures that we submitted is a success as much for our organization as for the entire field of oncology and for value-based care, as these measures help raise the bar on patient care while also addressing cost.”
The eight oncology-specific custom QCDR measures submitted by McKesson and approved by CMS include:
- Advance care planning in patients with metastatic cancer
- Patient-reported pain improvement
- Mutation testing for lung cancer completed prior to start of targeted therapy
- Supportive care drug utilization in last 14 days of life
- Hepatitis B serology testing and prophylactic treatment prior to receiving anti-CD20 targeting drugs
- Utilization of PET, PET/CT or CT scans for breast cancer stage 0, I or II at any time during the course of evaluation and treatment
- Utilization of GCSF in metastatic colorectal cancer
- Combination chemotherapy recommended or received within 4 months of diagnosis by women under 70 with AJCC stage T1cN0M0 to Stage 1B-III ER/PR negative breast cancer
“CMS continues to raise the standard for QCDR measure approval, with the goal of encouraging the measures that matter most to improving quality patient care,” said Lalan Wilfong, MD, vice president of Value-Based Care and Quality Programs for Texas Oncology, a practice in The US Oncology Network. “Our ultimate goal is to utilize quality measures to improve the care we provide. It’s also important to limit the number of measures in the MIPS program to ease the reporting burden on clinicians and reduce the overall cost of care. For these reasons, we took great care in developing the custom measures, submitting a wealth of supporting data and research to support our case. The approval of each measure from CMS is a validation of the hard work, clinical acumen and patient-first mindset of our team, and we are honored to be part of this important work moving cancer care forward.”
Along with The US Oncology Network, McKesson also supports oncology practices through its Onmark group purchasing organization (GPO), and the QCDR measure approvals reflect the organization’s insight into the entire landscape of oncology care.
“I am extremely proud of the work we do to shepherd both The Network and Onmark practices along the value-based care continuum,” said Erin Crum, director, Quality Measurement Strategy, McKesson. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of diverse teams across McKesson, we are able to deliver reporting that is critical to oncology practices’ value-based care success.”
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About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a global leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information solutions. McKesson partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies, governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively. United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and partners more successful – all for the better health of patients. McKesson has been named the “Most Admired Company” in the healthcare wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a “Best Place to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by Military Friendly. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.
About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than 1,380 independent physicians deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.
About Ontada
Ontada is an oncology technology and insights business dedicated to transforming the fight against cancer. Part of McKesson Corporation, Ontada was founded on the core belief that precise insights – delivered exactly at the point of need – can save more patients’ lives. We connect the full patient journey by combining technologies used by The US Oncology Network and other community oncology providers with real-world data and research relied on by all top 15 global life sciences companies. Our work helps accelerate innovation and power the future of cancer care. For more information, visit ontada.com or follow @OntadaOncology.
Contacts
McKesson
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@mckesson.com
