The CARE Registry™ was developed to capture key elements and definitions needed to accurately measure patient outcomes and clinical practice related to patients receiving carotid artery stenting and carotid endarterectomy procedures.

Participants will immediately fulfill CMS data collection requirements for carotid artery stent implantation, as well as receive quarterly benchmark reports that compare patient and facility performance to national peers. Benchmark reports enable analysis, interpretation, and reporting of quality performance and can be operationalized into actions or interventions that lead to improvements. Additional information on the CARE Registry™.

Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) On March 17, 2005 CMS issued a coverage determination statement that provided for the reimbursement of carotid artery stenting procedures for only a specific and predefined patient set. The determination outlined several criteria, including mandatory data collection upon which coverage would be contingent Visit the CMS website for a complete description of the carotid artery stent reimbursement decision.

CMS has determined that an item or service is only reasonable and necessary when specific data collection accompanies the provision of the service. In the case of carotid artery disease, the collection of data is required to ensure that the care provided to individual patients is likely to improve health outcomes.

CMS advocates that systematic, protocol-driven data has the potential to increase the likelihood of improved health outcomes. CMS’s premise is that care provided under these protocols generally involves greater attention to appropriate patient evaluation and selection, as well as the appropriate application of new technologies. The statutory authority for linking coverage decisions to the collection of additional data is derived from Sec 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act, which states that Medicare may not provide payment for items and services unless they are “reasonable and necessary” for the treatment of illness or injury.

CARE Registry™ Features: When you enroll in the CARE Registry™ you’ll receive access to the most comprehensive information available for measuring quality of care when treating patients with carotid artery disease. As an NCDR™ CARE Registry™ participant, you’ll receive: A national, secure, audited and confidential registry that meets CMS requirements The fastest way to satisfy payers and regulators Experienced support personnel Free online data collection tool Quarterly and annual benchmark reports Discounted NCDR™ Conferences and Workshops Tools to facilitate quality improvement at your hospital

Data Elements and Definitions The data elements and definitions have been adopted from a core set of data elements developed by a physician multidisciplinary group of carotid artery disease experts.

Answer Important Questions about Carotid Artery Disease Procedures Participants receive quarterly benchmark reports that answer these important questions and much more: How do the characteristics of interventional physicians compare between those involved in randomized trials and those placing the device following CMS approval for reimbursement? How do the indications and patient selection for carotid artery stent implantation compare to patient outcomes? How do the in-hospital carotid artery stent procedure-related complications compare to endarterectomy complications? What are the relative outcomes within the registry population?

CARE Registry™ Participant Responsibilities Once you’ve enrolled in the the CARE Registry™ Collect carotid artery stenting and endarterectomy patient data utilizing the CARE Registry™ Submit data quarterly Review data quality reports for completeness and resubmit if necessary Review quarterly comparative benchmark reports

The flagship NCDR™ registry, the CathPCI Registry™, has become a national standard for measuring patient outcomes. The ICD Registry™, developed in partnership with the HRS, has been available since June 2005 and the only national registry mandated by CMS for data collection and reporting for ICD procedures. The NCDR™ is committed to leading quality improvement efforts in vascular and cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, and carotid artery stenting nationwide. The NCDR™ will continue to lead efforts to collect data to measure the clinical management and outcomes of patients and establish nationally recognized benchmarks to facilitate improvement of quality of care.