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AAO13: Bell’s Palsy: Inappropriate Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography Scan (Inverse Measure)+

AAO13: Bell’s Palsy: Inappropriate Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computed Tomography Scan (Inverse Measure)+

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High Priority Status: Yes; Appropriate Use

NQF Number: N/A

Percentage of patients age 16 years and older with a new onset diagnosis of Bell’s palsy within the past 3 months who had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the internal auditory canal, head, neck, or brain ordered for the primary diagnosis of Bell’s palsy.

Denominator:

All patients age 16 years and older with a diagnosis of new onset Bell’s palsy within the past 3 months.

Denominator Exclusions:

None

Denominator Exceptions:

Medical reason(s) for ordering an MRI or CT scan of the internal auditory canal, head, neck, or brain for the primary diagnosis of Bell’s palsy including:

  • Patients with a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy more than 3 months prior to the date of the referral or performance of imaging with no signs of recovery.
  • Patients with recurrent diagnosis of Bell’s palsy.
  • Patients with paralysis limited to a specific branch, or branches, of the facial nerve.
  • Patients with paralysis associated with other cranial nerve abnormalities, including olfactory nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, and hypoglossal nerve.
  • Patients with other diagnosed neurological abnormalities, including simultaneous sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or dizziness; stroke; tumor; seizures; extremity weakness; and/or extremity hypoesthesia.

Numerator:

Patients for whom an MRI or CT scan of the internal auditory canal, head, neck, or brain was ordered for a primary diagnosis of Bell’s palsy.

Numerator Exclusions:

None

Measure Classifications:

  • Measure Type: Process
  • National Quality Strategy (NQS) domain: Efficiency and Cost Reduction
  • Meaningful Measures Area: Appropriate Use of Healthcare
  • Care Setting(s): Ambulatory Care: Clinician Office/Clinic
  • Includes Telehealth: Yes
  • Number of Performance Rates: 1
    • Inverse measure: Yes
    • Continuous measure: No
    • Proportional measure: Yes
    • Ratio measure: No
    • Risk-adjusted measure: No

 

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Limited proprietary coding is contained in the measure specifications for convenience. Users of the proprietary code sets should obtain all necessary licenses from the owners of these code sets. The measures, while copyrighted, can be reproduced and distributed, without modification, for noncommercial purposes, e.g. use by health care providers in connection with their practices. Commercial use is defined as the sale, license, or distribution of the measures for commercial gain, or incorporation of the measures into a product or service that is sold, licensed or distributed for commercial gain. Commercial uses of the measures require a license agreement between the user and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.

                                                                                         

The measure is not a clinical guideline, does not establish a standard of medical care, and has not been tested for all potential applications. The measure  and specifications are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Neither the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), nor its members shall be responsible for any use of the measure. The AAO-HNSF and its members disclaim all liability for use or accuracy of any Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) or other coding contained in the specifications.

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