Medical Practice Leaders Frustrated About Medicare's PQRI Data Requirements

Success in qualifying for the bonus varied greatly from state to state, the AMA stated in a 2008 report. "Although not a pay for performance program, this pay for reporting program provides incentives for merely reporting data," the AMA stated. "Many physicians feel the monetary returns for the amount of work expended in reporting is insufficient to warrant participation.

The AMA has stated that the "CMS should perform an analysis of why the success rate in this program was so low and so varied. Additional educational programs should be enacted to address deficiencies."

Jessee said in a statement he hoped CMS and Congress would "take note of our members' feedback and implement much needed improvements" in the program. Officials of the CMS said they could not comment immediately about the MGMA study.