42 CFR § 414.1250 - Benchmarks for quality of care measures.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s414.1250"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 414.1250 - Benchmarks for quality of care measures."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "414.1250"
section_name: "Benchmarks for quality of care measures."
chapter_name: "CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "MEDICARE PROGRAM"
part_number: "414"
part_name: "PAYMENT FOR PART B MEDICAL AND OTHER HEALTH SERVICES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 1302, 1395hh, and 1395rr(b)(l)."
regulatory_source: "55 FR 23441, June 8, 1990, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "414"
---


# 414.1250 Benchmarks for quality of care measures.

(a) The benchmark for quality of care measures reported through the PQRS using the claims, registries, QCDR, or web interface is the national mean for that measure's performance rate (regardless of the reporting mechanism) during the year prior to the performance period. In calculating the national benchmark, solo practitioners' and groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rates are weighted by the number of beneficiaries used to calculate the solo practitioners' or groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rate. Beginning with the CY 2016 performance period, eCQMs reported via EHRs are excluded from the overall benchmark for quality of care measures and separate eCQM benchmarks will be developed. The eCQM benchmark is the national mean for the measure's performance rate during the year prior to the performance period. In calculating the national benchmark, solo practitioners' and groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rates are weighted by the number of beneficiaries used to calculate the solo practitioners' or groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rate.

(b) The benchmark for each outcome measure under § 414.1230, is the national mean for that measure's performance rate during the year prior to the performance period. In calculating the national benchmark, solo practitioners' and groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rates are weighted by the number of beneficiaries used to calculate the solo practitioners' or groups' (or individual eligible professionals' within such groups) performance rate.

[79 FR 68007, Nov. 13, 2014, as amended at 80 FR 71384, Nov. 16, 2015]