Inquiry: We seek guidance on updated ICD-10 diagnosis codes effective in the measurement period and also effective after the publication of the reporting year’s value sets. Specifically, F32.A diagnosis code for Depression, unspecified is not present in “eCQM Update 2021-05-06” expansion version for reporting year 2022, presumably because its clinical effective date was October of 2021 (after the eCQM version publication). F32.A replaced F32.9 on Oct. 1, 2021. F32.A is included for reporting year 2023 which uses “eCQM Update 2022-05-05.”

Examining our Q-CMS2v11 2022 denominator cases, we are finding many patients with a diagnosis code of F32.A. These patients meet the Denominator Exclusion criteria but are not being captured by the “Depression Diagnosis” value set (2.16.840.1.113883.3.600.145, eCQM Update 2021-05-06 version). The result will be an underreporting of denominator exclusions, patients with a history of depression diagnosis. All 2021 and 2022 F32.A Depression diagnoses are missed.

We are seeking approval to include F32.A as an ICD-10 code indicating diagnosis of depression for Q-CMS2 2022 reporting year.

The omission of F32.A from the 2022 reporting year value sets may also affect other measures that use the “Depression Diagnosis” value set 2.16.840.1.113883.3.600.145.

In general, how are ICD-10 updates effective in the measurement year but not reflected in the value set publication (dated earlier) handled? Is there an addendum to allow for the updated ICD-10 codes that are effective in the measurement period?
In the case of Depression, unspecified, F32.9 is in the 2022 associated value set but F32.9’s replacement F32.A, is not. We would like to use F32A in the 2022 reporting year to accurately capture a history of depression diagnosis.

Your guidance on answering this inquiry would be most appreciated. Thank you.