Description of Measure:

CMS74: Primary Caries Prevention Intervention as Offered by Primary Care Providers, including Dentists

Percentage of children, 6 months - 20 years of age, who received a fluoride varnish application during the measurement period

Description of Issue:
The intent of the measure is to capture patients who are greater than or equal to 6 months and less than or equal to 20 years old at the start of the Measurement Period.

​​The current header for the Initial Population is ambiguous, as it does not indicate that the start of the Measurement Period should be used as the anchor for the evaluation of the age criteria.

Additionally, the logic does not currently meet the measure intent to include patients less than or equal to 20 years of age at the start of the measurement period.

Proposed Solution:

Current header for the Initial Population:
Children, 6 months - 20 years of age, with a visit during the measurement period

Proposed header for the Initial Population:
Children, 6 months - 20 years of age at the start of the measurement period, with a visit during the measurement period

Current logic:
Initial Population
exists ( ["Patient Characteristic Birthdate": "Birth date"] BirthDate
where Global."CalendarAgeInMonthsAt" ( BirthDate.birthDatetime, start of "Measurement Period" ) >= 6
and Global."CalendarAgeInYearsAt" ( BirthDate.birthDatetime, start of "Measurement Period" ) < 20) and exists ( "Qualifying Encounters" )

Proposed logic:
Initial Population
exists ( ["Patient Characteristic Birthdate": "Birth date"] BirthDate
where Global."CalendarAgeInMonthsAt" ( BirthDate.birthDatetime, start of "Measurement Period" ) >= 6
and Global."CalendarAgeInYearsAt" ( BirthDate.birthDatetime, start of "Measurement Period" ) <= 20) and exists ( "Qualifying Encounters" )

Rationale for Change:
​​The current header leaves room for ambiguity and the logic did not match the intent to include patients less than or equal to 20 years of age at the start of the measurement period. Therefore, we propose updating the header to make it more explicit that the start of the Measurement Period should be used as the anchor for the evaluation of the age criteria and updating the logic to align with the intent.