But only a third (34.5%) of those doctors take the next step with hypertension care plans, according to 2011 data compiled from the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s (ACCF) PINNACLE registry.
 
A report on the Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) Registry and four other National Cardiovascular Data registries sponsored by the ACCF provides a unique opportunity to understand the characteristics of large populations of patients with cardiovascular disease and quality of care provided.
 
PINNACLE data also showed that doctors could need more education on optimal anticoagulation strategies for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation as just 57.2% of eligible patients were prescribed the therapy.
 
Aside from the data reporting, PINNACLE is also an approved registry for CMS’ Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) reporting – a program that when met provides physicians with financial incentives and avoidance of a negative payment adjuster for future CMS reimbursements.
 
A proposed increase in the required number of reporting measures for individual eligible physicians and consideration of eliminating the claims-based reporting method could make registry reporting a valuable option for physicians.
 
For tips on selecting cardio-specific PQRS registries, turn to Cardiology Coder’s Pink Sheet.