Attachment B6 - Fact Sheet

Evaluation of PQRS and eRx Survey
FACT SHEET
Sponsorship and Administration of the Survey
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Department of Health and Human
Services is sponsoring this survey to better understand possible motivations for PQRS/eRx
program participation. CMS contracted with Econometrica to conduct a survey of 2,100
clinicians and administrators. Professionals and administrators at the same practice may receive
surveys. This is by design and not an error.
Goal of the Survey
The goal of the survey is to address how well PQRS/eRx is meeting the three aims of the
National Quality Strategy (NQS)—better care, healthy people, and affordable care. The survey
data will answer questions regarding provider decisions about participating in the programs, and
for participants, questions about the effect on participating professionals, cost to participate,
impact on beneficiary health, and participant experience with the reporting method.
Use of the Survey Data
CMS will use the survey responses to evaluate PQRS/eRx to understand possible motivations for
program participation and its impact on participating individual clinicians and group practices.
Privacy of Information You Provide
CMS will keep your identity and contact information separate from the survey responses you
provide. Your responses will be kept private, except as prescribed by law. Econometrica will
present the findings from the survey to CMS in aggregate form only; no responses will be
attributable to you or the clinic where you practice. The survey is not directly associated with
incentive payments or payment adjustments, nor is it related to other State or Federal reporting
requirements. Your decision to complete the survey will have no effect on any incentive
payments or payment adjustments now or in the future.
How You Can Help CMS
You have been selected to participate in this survey because, based on a review of program and
claims data, you or your practice were eligible to participate in PQRS or eRx and then chose to
participate or not in Program Year 2011. You can help CMS better understand PQRS/eRx
program participation and implement the goals of the NQS by completing the survey in a timely
manner when Econometrica contacts you.
The Survey Sample
The survey sample consists of 2,100 clinicians from all 50 states and the District of Columbia
who participated in the Program Year 2011 PQRS/eRx. The survey sample includes eligible
professionals and group practices eligible to participate in PQRS and/or eRx. The source of data
will be two surveys sent to (1) eligible professionals and (2) administrators.

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Timeframe for Completing the Survey
We encourage you to complete the survey as soon as possible. Once the data are collected,
Econometrica will analyze the survey responses and summarize the findings in aggregate form in
a written report to CMS.
Information for Completing the Survey
You will complete the survey online, which offers these benefits:
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Security and easy navigation

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Access to a URL
Automated skips
Completion at your leisure at work or home
No paper copy to mail or fax back

Survey Questions
The survey of eligible professionals and administrators will ask questions regarding decisions
about participating in the programs, effect on participating professionals, cost to participate,
impact on beneficiary health, and participant experience with different reporting methods.
Time Commitment
The survey should take approximately 15 minutes or less to complete. We recognize that you are
a busy professional, so we have worked to make the survey as brief as possible. We tested the
survey with clinicians and administrators to ensure the questions are relevant to your experience
and can be answered without your having to look up additional information.
Incentive Payment
Approximately 10 days after receiving your completed online survey, Econometrica will send
you a $100 gift card by email.
About CMS’ Contractor, Econometrica
Econometrica, http://www.econometricainc.com, is a research and management organization
committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic
evaluations for clients in the private and public sectors, located in Bethesda, MD. Econometrica
has more than 15 years of experience serving government and commercial clients with a broad
range of requirements in the energy, homeland security, housing, transportation, and health
markets, including CMS.
Contact Information for Survey
If you have questions about this survey, please contact Econometrica by phone at 1-888-2070728 or via email at [email protected].

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