236. Controlling High Blood Pressure
Percentage of patients 18 - 85 years of age who had a diagnosis of hypertension overlapping the measurement period and whose most recent blood pressure was adequately controlled (< 140/90 mmHg) during the measurement period.
This measure is to be reported a minimum of once per performance period for patients with hypertension seen during the performance period. The performance period for this measure is 12 months. The most recent quality code submitted will be used for performance calculation. This measure may be reported by eligible clinicians who perform the quality actions described in the measure based on the services provided and the measure-specific denominator coding.
- In reference to the numerator element, only blood pressure readings performed by a MIPS-eligible clinician in the provider office are acceptable for numerator compliance with this measure. Blood pressure readings from the patient's home (including readings directly from monitoring devices) are not acceptable.
- If no blood pressure is recorded during the measurement period, the patient's blood pressure is assumed "not controlled."
- If there are multiple blood pressure readings on the same day, use the lowest systolic and the lowest diastolic reading as the most recent blood pressure reading.
Screen the patient for high blood pressure:
- Create a visit note.
- On the Overview screen, tap Vitals.
You may need to swipe left on the second row of tiles to see Vitals.
- Record the Systolic, Diastolic, and Position.
A systolic less than 140 and diastolic less than 90 qualify this exam for this measure.
- Open the Ocular Exam.
- Select Essential Hypertension from Impressions.
- Select any Plan.
- Tap Special Plans and select MIPS.
- From Popular Plans, select MIPS Quality.
- Tap the More tab and select BP.
- Select an outcome from the Quality 236 drop-down.
- Tap Done.
- Document the rest of the exam and Finalize.
Alternatively, code quality with a special plan:
- Open the Ocular Exam.
- Select a Diagnosis and Plan.
- Tap Special Plans and select MIPS.
- From Popular Plans, select MIPS Quality.
- Tap the More tab.
- Select BP.
- Select the appropriate procedure from the Quality 236 drop-down.
- Tap Done.
- Document the rest of the exam and Finalize.
Screen the patient for high blood pressure:
- In a patient’s exam record in ExamWRITER, record the office visit (992xx).
- Click the Exam - Special Tests tab.
- Click the yellow Vital Signs button.
- Click your cursor in the Blood Pressure box, record the patient’s Systolic, Diastolic, and Pulse in the Blood Pressure/Pulse window select any applicable check boxes, and click Save/Exit.
- Record a diagnosis that indicates essential hypertension (I10).
- Click the Examination bar, select the Systemic check box, click Process, select Hypertension, and click Process.
OR select Hypertensive in any of the retinal tests performed in Special Testing.
- Document the rest of the exam.
- Click the Coding taskbar icon.
- On the diagnosis tab, click Clear All and click Auto Code.
Eyefinity products and documentation refer to the MIPS quality numbers. Other measure numbering systems are listed here for your reference.
Quality | 236 |
NQF | 0018 |
CMS | 165 |
- Claims (ExamWRITER only)
- EHR (ExamWRITER only)
- Registry (Eyefinity EHR only)
- AAO IRIS
Reporting methods vary by measure and EHR system. For more information about how different measures and reporting methods are scored, refer to the topic that corresponds with your EHR:
Patients aged 18 to 85 years;
AND who had a diagnosis of essential hypertension:
I10
AND who had a visit during the measurement period:
99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99241*, 99242*, 99243*, 99244*, 99245*, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345, 99347, 99348, 99349, 99350, 99385*, 99386*, 99387*, 99395*, 99396*, 99397*, G0438, G0439
92000 series codes are not included in this measure.
CPT codes listed with an asterisk (*) are noncovered services under the Physician Fee Schedule and will not be counted toward the denominator in claims-based reporting.
Denominator Exclusions
Hospice services given to patient any time during the measurement period:
G9740
OR documentation of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), dialysis, renal transplant before or during the measurement period or pregnancy during the measurement period:
G9231
OR patients age 66 or older in Institutional Special Needs Plans (SNP) or residing in long-term care with POS code 32, 33, 34, 54, or 56 for more than 90 days during the measurement period:
G9910
OR patients 66 years of age and older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period AND a dispensed medication for dementia during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement period:
G2115
OR patients 66 years of age and older with at least one claim/encounter for frailty during the measurement period AND either one acute inpatient encounter with a diagnosis of advanced illness or two outpatient, observation, ED or nonacute inpatient encounters on different dates of service with an advanced illness diagnosis during the measurement period or the year prior to the measurement period:
G2116
Patients whose most recent blood pressure is adequately controlled during the measurement period.
- Reporting requires codes for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure regardless of performance met/not met status.
- The G-codes will autocode only when the denominator requirements are satisfied. They will not autocode for 92000 series exams.
Performance Met
Most recent systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg:
G8752
AND most recent diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg:
G8754
Performance Not Met
Most recent systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg:
G8753 (with G8754 or G8755)
OR most recent diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg:
G8755 (with G8752 or G8753)
OR
No documentation of blood pressure measurement, reason not given:
G8756
To visualize these possible scenarios, refer to the following table.
Systolic | |||
Diastolic | < 140 | ≥ 140 | |
< 90 | G5752
G8754 Performance met |
G8753 G8754 Performance not met |
|
≥ 90 | G8752 G8755 Performance not met |
G8753 G8755 Performance not met |
Measures 236 and 317 are closely related. Refer to the table below to understand how exam procedures and findings impact each measure.
Criteria | Measure | Notes | |
317: Preventive Care & Screening | 236: Controlling High BP | ||
Age | 18 and over | 18–85 | |
Procedure code(s) | 992xx or 92xxx | 992xx | |
Diagnosis | — | I10 | |
The conditions above this line affect which options are available below | |||
Active diagnosis of hypertension | G9744 (exclusion) | — | This selection allows BP to be recorded, but restricts other BP check box selections |
Patient refused | G9745 (exception) | — | No further coding can be done for 317 |
Urgent or emergent situation | G9745 (exception) | — | No further coding can be done for 317 |
BP <120 and <80 | G8783 | — | |
BP ≥120 and ≥80 AND referred to alt. provider | G8950 | — | |
BP ≥120 and ≥80 NOT referred to alt. provider | G8952 (not met) | — | |
Systolic <140 | — | G8752 | Both systolic and diastolic measures required; any not met results in not met |
Systolic ≥140 | — | G8753 (not met) | |
Diastolic <90 | — | G8754 | |
Diastolic ≥90 | — | G8755 (not met) | |
BP is blank | G8785 (not met) | G8756 (not met) | These codes are overwritten if any of the above are selected |