Performance Measures

Performance measures are a vital component of health care quality. They serve as a mechanism to evaluate quality and cost-of-care performance. They drive improvement, allow patients to make informed decisions and influence provider payment. Measures can also objectively assess how well and appropriately health care is delivered compared to recognized standards.

Call for Input on New Breast Imaging Measures

Mammography quality and cost measures are being finalized before CMS’ consideration for future inclusion in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).  The ACR needs your input now and will solicit your comments as the quality measures progress through development and the rule-making process. 

Learn more and provide your input

About the Acumen, LLC 2024 Breast Cancer Screening Quality and Cost Measures 

To support the delivery of high-quality, low-cost breast cancer screening,  Acumen, LLC  developed three quality measures and one cost measure that assess clinician performance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Acumen reached out to the ACR to request nominations for the measure development expert panel, which resulted in the inclusion of ACR-recommended breast imaging radiologists. Patients and other clinicians also supported the measure development.       

ACR continues to monitor the progression of the measure development and is now collecting comments about the measures to provide Acumen and eventually the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) when considered for future inclusion in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), a CMS clinician quality program.  

Acumen supports the College’s efforts to work with the ACR membership to ensure the highest-quality measures.  

Please join us in reviewing the measures and providing your comments.

  1. A measure description document
  2. Input Survey

Technical Expert Panel Documentation and Measures’ Code List

Acumen provided the summaries for the technical expert panel (TEP) meetings, which provide insight into the development of their quality and cost measures. They also provided Quality Code Lists presenting the codes that trigger an episode of care and the diagnostic follow-up services included in the Recall Rate, PPV1 and PPV3 measures. The Cost Codes List presents the qualifying codes for meeting the cost measure’s criteria.

ACR-Sponsored Measures Under Development

Vetted by the ACR Measurement Strategy Group, measure concepts meeting the criteria for high priority are entered into the ACR Metrics Committee measure development pipeline. As the standing committee charged with ACR measure development, Metrics Committee members serve with invited stakeholders to develop measures in their pipeline more fully. 

ACR is always seeking new concepts for measure development; please use this form to submit ideas for measures you'd like to see developed.

If you are interested in testing any of the new measures currently under development by ACR at your facility, please provide your contact information using our testing volunteer form.

DXA: Improving Diagnosis of True Changes in Bone Mineral Density

This measure aims to improve the communication quality of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) reports by encouraging assessment and reporting of measurement precision.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

These measure(s) aim to ensure that evidence-based follow-up recommendations are made for abdominal aortic aneurysms with a diameter of 2.5 cm or greater.

Closing the Recommendations Follow-up on Actionable Incidental Findings

These measures intend to ensure the completion of evidence-based radiologist-recommended follow-up. 

Diagnostic Imaging 2018 Quality Measures

Detailed Measure List 

These measures were finalized in May 2018.

  • Measure 1: Use of Structured Reporting in Prostate MRI
  • Measure 2: Follow-up Recommendations for Incidental Findings of Simple-Appearing Cystic Renal Masses
  • Measure 3: Surveillance Imaging for Liver Nodules < 10 mm in Patients at Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
  • Measure 4: Use of Quantitative Criteria for Oncologic FDG PET Imaging
  • Measure 5: Use of Low Dose Cranial CT or MRI Examinations for Patients with Ventricular Shunts
  • Measure 6: Use of Low Dose CT Studies for Adults with Suspicion of Urolithiasis or Nephrolithiasis

If your radiology practice would like to help test these measures, please fill out a volunteer form  or email Measure.Development@acr.org. 

Diagnostic Imaging 2017 Quality Measures

Detailed Measure List

  • Measure 1: Recommended Follow-up for Imaging Findings
  • Measure 2: Appropriateness: Follow-up Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging for Incidentally-Detected Pulmonary Nodules According to Recommended Guidelines
  • Measure 3: Appropriate Follow-up Imaging for Benign Adrenal Masses
  • Measure 4: Interpretation of CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) for Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Measure 5: Incidental Coronary Artery Calcification Reported on Chest CT

The ACR is looking for radiology practices to help us test and validate this set of quality reporting measures. To volunteer, please fill out a volunteer form  or email Measure.Development@acr.org.

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