We are still awaiting confirmation about what is required for QOF 2020/21 in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The only information we have so far is that which is documented in the 2020/21 GP Contract Agreement.
We have summarised the main changes below to try and prepare practices as much as possible for when the technical and business specifications are published. We have also updated our chronic disease and other relevant templates to include these new indicators. We have chosen fields with SNOMED codes that we have predicted will likely be used when QOF 2020/21 becomes confirmed. If these are wrong we shall give you searches to batch-code change the codes we have used to the correct ones.
Domains with Updated Indicators
Asthma
Register - Now only includes patients over 6 years old
Diagnosis - Patients needs reversibility or FeNO testing between 3 months before and 6 months after diagnosis
Monitoring - Asthma annual reviews need to include a record of the number of exacerbations and an assessment of inhaler technique as well as an assessment of control and a coded annual review.
Smoking - Patients under 19 now need a record of either personal smoking status OR a record of exposure to second hand smoke
COPD
Diagnosis - Diagnosis (since 1st April 2020) needs to be confirmed by FEV1/FVC ration below 0.7 between 3 months before and 6 months after diagnosis.
Monitoring - Annual review of COPD patients now needs to include a record of the number of exacerbations as well as an assessment of breathlessness.
Heart Failure
Diagnosis - Diagnosis of heart failure after 1st April 2020 needs to be confirmed by an echocardiogram or by specialist assessment between 3 months before or 6 months after diagnosis .
Treatment - Patients need to be treated with an ACE or ARB and a beta blocker.
Monitoring - Patients now need an annual review for heart failure, including an assessment of functional capacity and a review of medication to ensure medicines optimisation.
New Indicator
Non-Diabetic Hyperglycaemia
Monitoring - Patients with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia need an annual HbA1c or FPG test.
New Quality Improvement
Early Cancer Diagnosis
QI005. The contractor can demonstrate continuous quality improvement activity focussed upon early cancer diagnosis as specified in the QOF guidance
QI006. The contractor has participated in network activity to regularly share activity as specified in the QOF guidance. This would usually include participating in a minimum of two peer review meetings
Learning Disability
QI007. The contractor can demonstrate continuous quality improvement activity focussed upon learning disabilities as specified in the QOF guidance
QI008. The contractor has participated in network activity to regularly share activity as specified in the QOF guidance. This would usually include participating in a minimum of two peer review meetings
Example section of updated QOF template with predicted fields for new indicators:
