Many optometrists may be aware that failure to report PQRS measures will result in penalties beginning in 2015. What they may not realize is that the determination of which practitioners are penalized is based on performance two years in advance of the penalty! For 2013 and 2014, there is still a 0.5% incentive payment in effect, but payment reductions for failure to report performance measures start with 1.5% in 2015 and 2.0% in 2016. While the incentives may not have motivated some practitioners to use the PQRS codes, the penalties can adversely affect your bottom line. According to the AOA, to secure exemption from the 2015 penalty, practitioners must report at least one PQRS quality measure on a Medicare claim in 2013. Just one time, on one claim! Obviously, it’s best to fully participate and get the 0.5% incentive, but submitting one claim is a simple way to secure full Medicare payment on your 2015 claims.