Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Describe Findings in Medicare and Medicaid (Assessing Resident Cataract Surgery Outcomes Using…

Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Describe Findings in Medicare and Medicaid (Assessing Resident Cataract Surgery Outcomes Using Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System Measures)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Medicare and Medicaid have been published. According to news reporting out of Boston, Massachusetts, by VerticalNews editors, research stated, "To assess resident cataract surgery outcomes at an academic teaching institution using 2 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) cataract measures, which are intended to serve as a proxy for quality of surgical care. A retrospective review comparing cataract surgery outcomes of resident and attending surgeries using 2 PQRS measures: (1) 20/40 or better best-corrected visual acuity following cataract surgery and (2) complications within 30 days following cataract surgery requiring additional surgical procedures."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, "An academic ophthalmology center. A total of 2487 surgeries performed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 were included in this study. Of all 2487 cataract surgeries, 98.95% achieved a vision of at least 20/40 at or before 90 days, and only 0.64% required a return to the operating room for postoperative complications. Of resident surgeries, 98.9% (1370 of 1385) achieved 20/40 vision at or before 90 days follow-up. Of attending surgeries, 99.0% (1091 of 1102) achieved 20/40 vision at or before 90 days (p = 1.00). There were no statistically significant differences between resident and attending cases regarding postoperative complications needing a return to the operating room (i.e., 0.65%, or 9 of 1385 resident cases vs 0.64%, or 7 of 1102 attending cases; p = 1.00). Using PQRS Medicare cataract surgery criteria, this study establishes new benchmarks for cataract surgery outcomes at a teaching institution and supplemental measure for assessing resident surgical performance. Excellent cataract outcomes were achieved at an academic teaching institution, with results exceeding Medicare thresholds of 50%."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "There appears to be no significant difference in supervised trainee and attending cataract surgeon outcomes using 2 PQRS measures currently used by Medicare to determine physician reimbursement and quality of care."

For more information on this research see: Assessing Resident Cataract Surgery Outcomes Using Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System Measures. Journal of Surgical Education, 2016;73(5):774-779. Journal of Surgical Education can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, 360 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Surgical Education - www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-surgical-education/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Eye & Ear Infirmary, Glaucoma Serv, Boston, MA 02114, United States. Additional authors for this research include S. Borboli-Gerogiannis, S. Brauner, H.Y.P. Chang, S. Chen, M. Gardiner, S.H. Greenstein, C. Kloek, J.W. Miller and T.C. Chen.

Keywords for this news article include: Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America, Medicare and Medicaid, Health Policy, Medicare, Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

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