Measure: CMS139
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk
Measure Versions
eMeasure Code |
Measure Year |
Full Version Number |
Title |
CMS139v12 |
2024 |
12.0.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v11 |
2023 |
11 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v10 |
2022 |
10.0.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v9 |
2021 |
9.2.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v8 |
2020 |
8.1.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v7 |
2019 |
7.2.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v6 |
2018 |
6.1.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
CMS139v5 |
2017 |
5.0.000 |
Falls: Screening for Future Fall Risk |
Description
Percentage of patients 65 years of age and older who were screened for future fall risk during the measurement period
Guidance
This eCQM is a patient-based measure.
This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.5. Please refer to the eCQI resource center (https://ecqi.healthit.gov/qdm) for more information on the QDM.
Patient Group Definitions
Group |
Description |
Instructions Links |
Initial Population | Patients aged 65 years and older with a visit during the measurement period | Webchart Instructions |
Denominator | Equals Initial Population | Webchart Instructions |
Denominator Exclusions | Exclude patients whose hospice care overlaps the measurement period. | Webchart Instructions |
Numerator | Patients who were screened for future fall risk at least once within the measurement period | Webchart Instructions |
Numerator Exclusions | Not Applicable | Webchart Instructions |
Denominator Exceptions | None | |
Details
Full eMeasure Code |
eMeasure Identifier |
Measure Year |
Version |
NQF # |
GUID |
CMS139v9 |
139 |
2021 |
9.2.000 |
Not Applicable |
bc5b4a57-b964-4399-9d40-667c896f31ea |
Steward |
Developer |
Endorsed By |
National Committee for Quality Assurance |
National Committee for Quality Assurance |
|
Scoring Method |
Measure Type |
Stratification |
Risk Adjustment |
Proportion |
PROCESS |
None |
None |
Rate Aggregation
None
Improvement Notation
A higher score indicates better quality
Rationale
As the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for older adults, falls are one of the most common and significant health issues facing people aged 65 years or older (Schneider, Shubert and Harmon, 2010). Moreover, the rate of falls increases with age (Dykes et al., 2010). Older adults are five times more likely to be hospitalized for fall-related injuries than any other cause-related injury. It is estimated that one in every three adults over 65 will fall each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015). In those over age 80, the rate of falls increases to fifty percent (Doherty et al., 2009). Falls are also associated with substantial cost and resource use, approaching $30,000 per fall hospitalization Woolcott et al., 2011). Identifying at-risk patients is the most important part of management, as applying preventive measures in this vulnerable population can have a profound effect on public health (al-Aama, 2011). Family physicians have a pivotal role in screening older patients for risk of falls, and applying preventive strategies for patients at risk (al-Aama, 2011).
Clinical Recommendation Statement
All older persons who are under the care of a heath professional (or their caregivers) should be asked at least once a year about falls. (AGS/BGS/AAOS 2010)
Older persons who present for medical attention because of a fall, report recurrent falls in the past year, or demonstrate abnormalities of gait and/or balance should have a fall evaluation performed. This evaluation should be performed by a clinician with appropriate skills and experience, which may necessitate referral to a specialist (e.g., geriatrician). (AGS/BGS/AAOS 2010)
Definition
Screening for Future Fall Risk: Assessment of whether an individual has experienced a fall or problems with gait or balance. A specific screening tool is not required for this measure, however potential screening tools include the Morse Fall Scale and the timed Get-Up-And-Go test.
Fall: A sudden, unintentional change in position causing an individual to land at a lower level, on an object, the floor, or the ground, other than as a consequence of sudden onset of paralysis, epileptic seizure, or overwhelming external force.
Transmission Format
TBD
Applicable Value Sets
Category |
Value Set |
OID |
Assessment, Performed |
Falls Screening |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.118.12.1028 |
Encounter, Performed |
Annual Wellness Visit |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1240 |
Encounter, Performed |
Audiology Visit |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1066 |
Encounter, Performed |
Care Services in Long-Term Residential Facility |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1014 |
Encounter, Performed |
Discharge Services - Nursing Facility |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1013 |
Encounter, Performed |
Encounter Inpatient |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.666.5.307 |
Encounter, Performed |
Home Healthcare Services |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1016 |
Encounter, Performed |
Nursing Facility Visit |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1012 |
Encounter, Performed |
Office Visit |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1001 |
Encounter, Performed |
Ophthalmological Services |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1285 |
Encounter, Performed |
Preventive Care Services - Established Office Visit, 18 and Up |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1025 |
Encounter, Performed |
Preventive Care Services-Individual Counseling |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1026 |
Encounter, Performed |
Preventive Care Services-Initial Office Visit, 18 and Up |
2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1023 |
Intervention, Order |
Hospice care ambulatory |
2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1108.15 |
Intervention, Performed |
Hospice care ambulatory |
2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1108.15 |
Patient Characteristic Ethnicity |
Ethnicity |
2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.837 |
Patient Characteristic Payer |
Payer |
2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.3591 |
Patient Characteristic Race |
Race |
2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.836 |
Patient Characteristic Sex |
ONC Administrative Sex |
2.16.840.1.113762.1.4.1 |
References
al-Aama, T. 2011. "Falls in the Elderly: Spectrum and Prevention." Can Fam Physician 57(7):771-6.
American Geriatrics Society and British Geriatric Society. (2010) Prevention of Falls in Older Persons Clinical Practice Guidelines. Accessed June 14, 2018. Available at
https://www.archcare.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2010-prevention-of-falls-in-older-persons-ags-and-bgs-clinical-practice-guideline.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2015. "Important Facts about Falls" (December 14, 2015) http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html
Doherty, M., and J. Crossen-Sills. 2009. "Fall Risk: Keep your patients in balance." The Nurse Practitioner: The American Journal of Primary Health Care 34(12):46-51.
Dykes, P.C., D.L. Carroll DL, A. Hurley A, S. Lipsitz S, A. Benoit A, F. Chang F, S. Meltzer S, R. Tsurikova R, L. Zuyov L, B. Middleton B. 2010. "Fall Prevention in Acute Care Hospitals: A Randomized Trial." JAMA . 2010;304(17):1912-1918.
Schneider, E.C., T.E. Shubert, and K.J. Harmon. 2010. "Addressing the Escalating Public Health Issue of Falls Among Older Adults." NC Med J 71(6):547-52.
Woolcott, J.C., K.M. Khan, S. Mitrovic, A.H. Anis, C.A. Marra. 2011. "The Cost of Fall Related Presentations to the ED: A Prospective, In-Person, Patient-Tracking Analysis of Health Resource Utilization." Osteporos Int [Epub ahead of print].
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Source:
https://ecqi.healthit.gov/ecqm/measures/cms139v9