eCQM QICore Content Implementation Guide
2025.0.0 - CI Build
eCQM QICore Content Implementation Guide, published by cqframework. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 2025.0.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/cqframework/ecqm-content-qicore-2025/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions
Official URL: https://madie.cms.gov/Measure/CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport | Version: 0.4.000 | |||
Active as of 2025-07-15 | Responsible: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) | Computable Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport | ||
Other Identifiers: Short Name: CMS50FHIR (use: usual, ), UUID:75691bbe-451e-4e3a-9a95-6361f7b45196 (use: official, ), UUID:9cd42f10-93e1-466f-9641-dcf839e2c827 (use: official, ), Publisher: 50FHIR (use: official, ) | ||||
Copyright/Legal: This electronic clinical quality measure (Measure) and related data specifications are owned and stewarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS contracted (Contract # 75FCMC18D0027/ Task Order #: 75FCMC24F0144) with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to develop this electronic measure. AIR is not responsible for any use of the Measure. AIR makes no representations, warranties, or endorsement about the quality of any organization or physician that uses or reports performance measures and AIR has no liability to anyone who relies on such measures or specifications. Limited proprietary coding is contained in the Measure specifications for user convenience. Users of proprietary code sets should obtain all necessary licenses from the owners of the code sets. AIR disclaims all liability for use or accuracy of any third-party codes contained in the specifications. CPT(R) contained in the Measure specifications is copyright 2004-2024 American Medical Association. LOINC(R) is copyright 2004-2024 Regenstrief Institute, Inc. This material contains SNOMED Clinical Terms(R) (SNOMED CT[R]) copyright 2004-2024 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation. |
Percentage of patients with referrals, regardless of age, for which the referring clinician receives a report from the clinician to whom the patient was referred
Metadata | |
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Title | Closing the Referral Loop: Receipt of Specialist ReportFHIR |
Version | 0.4.000 |
Short Name | CMS50FHIR |
GUID (Version Independent) | urn:uuid:75691bbe-451e-4e3a-9a95-6361f7b45196 |
GUID (Version Specific) | urn:uuid:9cd42f10-93e1-466f-9641-dcf839e2c827 |
CMS Identifier | 50FHIR |
Effective Period | 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31 |
Approval Date | 2023-11-27 |
Last Review Date | 2023-11-27 |
Steward (Publisher) | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) |
Developer | American Institutes for Research (AIR) |
Description | Percentage of patients with referrals, regardless of age, for which the referring clinician receives a report from the clinician to whom the patient was referred |
Copyright | This electronic clinical quality measure (Measure) and related data specifications are owned and stewarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS contracted (Contract # 75FCMC18D0027/ Task Order #: 75FCMC24F0144) with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to develop this electronic measure. AIR is not responsible for any use of the Measure. AIR makes no representations, warranties, or endorsement about the quality of any organization or physician that uses or reports performance measures and AIR has no liability to anyone who relies on such measures or specifications. Limited proprietary coding is contained in the Measure specifications for user convenience. Users of proprietary code sets should obtain all necessary licenses from the owners of the code sets. AIR disclaims all liability for use or accuracy of any third-party codes contained in the specifications. CPT(R) contained in the Measure specifications is copyright 2004-2024 American Medical Association. LOINC(R) is copyright 2004-2024 Regenstrief Institute, Inc. This material contains SNOMED Clinical Terms(R) (SNOMED CT[R]) copyright 2004-2024 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation. |
Disclaimer | This performance Measure is not a clinical guideline, does not establish a standard of medical care, and has not been tested for all potential applications. THE MEASURE AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. Due to technical limitations, registered trademarks are indicated by (R) or [R] and unregistered trademarks are indicated by (TM) or [TM]. |
Rationale | Problems in the outpatient referral and consultation process have been documented, including inadequate care pathways between specialty and primary care. Studies suggest that both specialists and primary care providers (PCPs) are not satisfied with current processes (Institute for Healthcare Improvement / National Patient Safety Foundation, 2017; Greenwood-Lee et. al, 2018). Breakdowns in referral communication leads to worse health outcomes, increased cost, and appointment delays (Patel et. al, 2018; Odisho et. al, 2020. A 2018 analysis of primary care referrals to specialists found that of the 103,737 referral scheduling attempts analyzed, only 36,072 (34.8%) resulted in documented complete appointments, defined by the specialty clinician providing report to the PCP after the referral visit (Patel et. al, 2018). Technological and process-based updates can improve the referral loop process and increase rates of closing the referral loop. Ramelson et. al (2018) enhanced an EHR's Referral Manager module to meet the Controlled Risk Insurance Company’s best practice steps and the requirements of both the CMS EHR Incentive Program and the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home program. Following the updates, 76.8% of referrals were completed and all defined referral process steps were easier to accomplish. Odisho et. al (2020) developed a referrals automation software to simplify the fax to referral process. Feedback from key stakeholder interviews noted that the software enhanced the referrals process by further streamlining and organizing the patient referral process. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the National Patient Safety Foundation (2017) reviewed the referrals process in the ambulatory care setting and found that organizational leaders, EHR vendors, regulatory agencies, clinicians, and patients all play a role in creating a referrals system that is effective, safe, convenient, and patient-centered. |
Clinical Recommendation Statement | None |
Guidance (Usage) | The clinician who refers the patient to another clinician is the clinician who should be held accountable for the performance of this measure. Only the first referral made between January 1 – October 31 of the measurement period will be considered for this measure to allow adequate time for the referring clinician to collect the consult report by the end of the measurement period. If there are multiple referrals for a patient during the measurement period, use the first referral. The clinician to whom the patient was referred is responsible for sending the consultant report that will fulfill the communication. Note: this is not the same clinician who would report on the measure. The consultant report that will successfully close the referral loop should be related to the first referral for a patient during the measurement period. If there are multiple consultant reports received by the referring clinician which pertain to a particular referral, use the first consultant report to satisfy the measure. Eligible clinicians reporting on this measure should note that all data for the measurement period is to be submitted by the deadline established by CMS. Therefore, eligible clinicians who refer patients towards the end of the measurement period (i.e., October), should request that clinicians to whom they referred their patients share their consult reports as soon as possible in order for those patients to be counted in the measure numerator during the measurement period. When clinicians to whom patients are referred communicate the consult report as soon as possible with the referring clinician, it ensures that the communication loop is closed in a timely manner and that the data are included in the submission to CMS. A procedural report received from a specialist for an exam or procedure conducted (e.g., diabetic eye exam, colonoscopy, etc.) can satisfy the numerator requirement and successfully close the referral loop. A separate consultant note or consultant report is not required to close the referral loop in these circumstances. This eCQM is a patient-based measure. This version of the eCQM uses QDM version 5.6. Please refer to the eCQI resource center (https://ecqi.healthit.gov/qdm) for more information on the QDM. |
Measure Group (Rate) (ID: Group_1) | |
Summary | Percentage of patients with referrals, regardless of age, for which the referring clinician receives a report from the clinician to whom the patient was referred |
Basis | boolean |
Scoring | Proportion |
Type | Process |
Rate Aggregation | None |
Improvement Notation | increase |
Initial Population |
ID: InitialPopulation_1
Description: Number of patients, regardless of age, who had an encounter during the measurement period and were referred by one clinician to another clinician on or before October 31 Logic Definition: Initial Population |
Denominator |
ID: Denominator_1
Description: Equals Initial Population Logic Definition: Denominator |
Numerator |
ID: Numerator_1
Description: Number of patients with a referral on or before October 31, for which the referring clinician received a report from the first clinician to whom the patient was referred Logic Definition: Numerator |
Supplemental Data Guidance | For every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity and sex; SDE Ethnicity SDE Payer SDE Race SDE Sex |
Supplemental Data Elements | |
Supplemental Data Element |
ID: sde-ethnicity
Usage Code: Supplemental Data Description: SDE Ethnicity Logic Definition: SDE Ethnicity |
Supplemental Data Element |
ID: sde-payer
Usage Code: Supplemental Data Description: SDE Payer Logic Definition: SDE Payer |
Supplemental Data Element |
ID: sde-race
Usage Code: Supplemental Data Description: SDE Race Logic Definition: SDE Race |
Supplemental Data Element |
ID: sde-sex
Usage Code: Supplemental Data Description: SDE Sex Logic Definition: SDE Sex |
Measure Logic | |
Primary Library | CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
Contents |
Population Criteria
Logic Definitions Terminology Dependencies Data Requirements |
Population Criteria | |
Measure Group (Rate) (ID: Group_1) | |
Initial Population | |
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Initial Population | |
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Denominator | |
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Numerator | |
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Logic Definitions | |
Logic Definition | Library Name: SupplementalDataElements |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: SupplementalDataElements |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: SupplementalDataElements |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: SupplementalDataElements |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: CMS50FHIRCRLReceiptofSpecialistReport |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: QICoreCommon |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: QICoreCommon |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: Status |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: FHIRHelpers |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: FHIRHelpers |
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Logic Definition | Library Name: FHIRHelpers |
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Terminology | |
Code System |
Description: Code system SNOMEDCT
Resource: SNOMED CT (all versions) Canonical URL: http://snomed.info/sct |
Code System |
Description: Code system CPT
Resource: Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Canonical URL: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Consultant Report
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.121.12.1006
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.121.12.1006 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Referral
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1046
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1046 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Office Visit
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1001
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1001 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Ophthalmological Services
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1285
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1285 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Preventive Care Services Established Office Visit, 18 and Up
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1025
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1025 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Preventive Care Services, Initial Office Visit, 0 to 17
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1022
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1022 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Preventive Care Services Initial Office Visit, 18 and Up
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1023
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1023 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Preventive Care, Established Office Visit, 0 to 17
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1024
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1024 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Behavioral/Neuropsych Assessment
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1023
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1023 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Psych Visit Diagnostic Evaluation
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1492
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1492 |
Value Set |
Description: Value set Payer Type
Resource: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.3591
Canonical URL: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.3591 |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Male (finding)
Code: 248153007 System: http://snomed.info/sct |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Female (finding)
Code: 248152002 System: http://snomed.info/sct |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Health behavior assessment, or re-assessment (ie, health-focused clinical interview, behavioral observations, clinical decision making)
Code: 96156 System: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by physician or other qualified health care professional, two or more tests, any method; first 30 minutes
Code: 96136 System: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by technician, two or more tests, any method; first 30 minutes
Code: 96138 System: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Psychotherapy for crisis; first 60 minutes
Code: 90839 System: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Direct Reference Code |
Display: Developmental test administration (including assessment of fine and/or gross motor, language, cognitive level, social, memory and/or executive functions by standardized developmental instruments when performed), by physician or other qualified health care professional, with interpretation and report; first hour
Code: 96112 System: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/cpt |
Dependencies | |
Dependency |
Description: Library SDE
Resource: Library/SupplementalDataElements|5.1.000
Canonical URL: Library/SupplementalDataElements|5.1.000 |
Dependency |
Description: Library FHIRHelpers
Resource: Library/FHIRHelpers|4.4.000
Canonical URL: Library/FHIRHelpers|4.4.000 |
Dependency |
Description: Library QICoreCommon
Resource: Library/QICoreCommon|4.0.000
Canonical URL: Library/QICoreCommon|4.0.000 |
Dependency |
Description: Library FHIRHelpers
Resource: Library/FHIRHelpers|4.4.000
Canonical URL: Library/FHIRHelpers|4.4.000 |
Dependency |
Description: Library Status
Resource: Library/Status|1.13.000
Canonical URL: Library/Status|1.13.000 |
Data Requirements | |
Data Requirement |
Type: ServiceRequest
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-servicerequest
Must Support Elements: code, status, status.value, intent, intent.value, authoredOn, authoredOn.value, id, id.value Code Filter(s): Path: code ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1046
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Data Requirement |
Type: Task
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-task
Must Support Elements: code, executionPeriod, status, status.value Code Filter(s): Path: code ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.121.12.1006
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Data Requirement |
Type: ServiceRequest
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-servicerequest
Must Support Elements: code, status, status.value, intent, intent.value, authoredOn, authoredOn.value, id, id.value, ID, AuthorDate Code Filter(s): Path: code ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1046
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Data Requirement |
Type: Patient
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-patient
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1001
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1285
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1025
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1022
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1023
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Data Requirement |
Type: Encounter
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-encounter
Must Support Elements: type Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.464.1003.101.12.1024
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Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1023
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Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code Code(s): Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 96156: Health behavior assessment, or re-assessment (ie, health-focused clinical interview, behavioral observations, clinical decision making) |
Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code Code(s): Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 96136: Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by physician or other qualified health care professional, two or more tests, any method; first 30 minutes |
Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code Code(s): Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 96138: Psychological or neuropsychological test administration and scoring by technician, two or more tests, any method; first 30 minutes |
Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code Code(s): Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 90839: Psychotherapy for crisis; first 60 minutes |
Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.113883.3.526.3.1492
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Data Requirement |
Type: Procedure
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-procedure
Must Support Elements: code Code Filter(s): Path: code Code(s): Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 96112: Developmental test administration (including assessment of fine and/or gross motor, language, cognitive level, social, memory and/or executive functions by standardized developmental instruments when performed), by physician or other qualified health care professional, with interpretation and report; first hour |
Data Requirement |
Type: Patient
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-patient
Must Support Elements: url |
Data Requirement |
Type: Coverage
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-coverage
Must Support Elements: type, period Code Filter(s): Path: type ValueSet: http://cts.nlm.nih.gov/fhir/ValueSet/2.16.840.1.114222.4.11.3591
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Data Requirement |
Type: Patient
Profile(s): http://hl7.org/fhir/us/qicore/StructureDefinition/qicore-patient
Must Support Elements: url, extension |
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