As per the CMS2v12 eSpec, it is mentioned that: For the patient to be qualified for the Numerator, 

Patients screened for depression on the date of the encounter or up to 14 days prior to the date of the encounter using an age-appropriate standardized tool AND if positive, a follow-up plan is documented on the date of or up to two days after the date of the qualifying encounter

Where as in the "Guidance" section of the eSpec, it says the following

A depression screen is completed on the date of the encounter or up to 14 calendar days prior to the date of the encounter using an age-appropriate standardized depression screening tool AND if positive, a follow-up plan must be documented on the date of or up to two calendar days after the date of the encounter, such as referral to a provider for additional evaluation, pharmacological interventions, or other interventions for the treatment of depression. An example to illustrate the follow-up plan documentation timing: if the encounter is on a Monday from 3-4 pm (day 0) and the patient screens positive, the clinician has through anytime on Wednesday (day 2) to complete follow-up plan documentation.

This measure does not require documentation of a specific score, just whether results of the normalized and validated depression screening tool used are considered positive or negative. Each standardized screening tool provides guidance on whether a particular score is considered positive for depression.

This eCQM is a patient-based measure. Depression screening is required once per measurement period, not at all encounters.

The above text, Which I had highlighted in RED DOES IT STATE THAT, PATIENT SHOULD QUALIFY THE NUMERATOR IF :

There is only 1 Depression screening is present in the measurement period irrespective of whether the Depression screening is completed on the date of the encounter or up to 14 calendar days.

• • This is misleading us because there is a condition that states, "Depression screening assessment should be completed on the date of encounter or up to 14 calendar days prior to the date of the encounter " in the 1st paragraph which I had highlighted in GREEN **{}. 

Here is an illustration of the scenario

PROVIDER A -

Patient has an Encounter Starts on APRIL 1 - Ends on: APRIL 2
Negative Depression Screening is completed- APRIL 1

PROVIDER B-

Same Patient has an Encounter with Provider B Starts on APRIL 19 - Ends on: APRIL 20

[***Here the Encounter date is more than 14 days after the completion of Depression screening with Provider A**]

Q: In this scenario, The patient would qualify the Numerator for Provider A. Does the Patient should qualify for Provider B as well? (As per the RED Highlighted text)

Our understanding: Only Provider A should qualify BUT not Provider B (because the Encounter is more than 14 days after completion of Depression screening .

 We arrived at this doubt, because of the RED highlighted text which is taken from "Guidance" section in CMS2v12 eSpec.