Measure ID: MIPS 006·Cardiology·2026 Performance Year

2026 MIPS Measure #006: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Antiplatelet Therapy

Percentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) seen within a 12-month period who were prescribed aspirin or clopidogrel.

ProcessCardiologyAppropriate Treatment

Measure ID:MIPS 006 (Quality ID 6)

CBE:67

Collection:MIPS CQM

Topped Out:Yes

View CMS Spec ↗

Measure Specification

Eligible Population

Patients aged ≥ 18 years on date of encounter

ANDDiagnosis for coronary artery disease on date of encounter

ANDPatient encounter during the performance period

Exclusions

None

Numerator

Patients who were prescribed aspirin or clopidogrel.

Reporting Codes

Performance Met:

4086FAspirin or clopidogrel prescribed or currently being taken

Performance Not Met:

4086F with 8PAspirin or clopidogrel was not prescribed, reason not otherwise specified

○ Exceptions:

Documentation of medical reason(s) for not prescribing aspirin or clopidogrel (e.g., allergy, intolerance, receiving other thienopyridine therapy, receiving warfarin therapy, bleeding coagulation disorders, other medical reasons) (4086F with 1P)

Documentation of patient reason(s) for not prescribing aspirin or clopidogrel (e.g., patient declined, other patient reasons) (4086F with 2P)

VBCA Insights

Why This Measure Matters

This measure checks whether patients with coronary artery disease are on blood thinners like aspirin or clopidogrel to prevent heart attacks and strokes. These antiplatelet drugs reduce cardiovascular events significantly in CAD patients, making them a cornerstone of prevention. Prescribe aspirin or clopidogrel unless there's a documented contraindication, and document the medication in the active list. Regular medication reconciliation ensures no gaps in therapy.

VBCA is a CMS-approved Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) that submits MIPS Measure 006 to the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Practices can report this measure as a MIPS Clinical Quality Measure (CQM) or through qualified registry submission.

🧮MIPS Score Simulator

Estimate only — actual CMS scoring may vary based on reporting method, data completeness, and annual rule updates.

Your Performance Rate:%Benchmarks vary by collection type

💡 Tip: Enter your performance rate to compare MIPS points across all collection types. The same rate can score differently depending on how you submit.

2026 MIPS 006 Benchmarks

Historical CMS benchmark deciles for MIPS quality measure 006 by collection type. Your performance rate falls into a decile, which determines your measure points (3–10).

MIPS CQMAvg. performance rate: 91.60%Topped Out — 7-point cap

Decile	Performance Rate Range	Points
Decile 1	38.16 - 70.13%	1 – 1.9
Decile 2	70.14 - 80.56%	2 – 2.9
Decile 3	80.57 - 92.15%	3 – 3.9
Decile 4	92.16 - 99.37%	4 – 4.9
Decile 5	99.38 - 99.99%	5 – 5.9
Decile 10	100.00%	10

Specialty Measure Sets

Cardiology Family Medicine Internal Medicine Skilled Nursing Facility

Related Measures

Cardiology

MIPS 007: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Beta-Blocker Therapy – Prior Myocardial MIPS 118: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)MIPS 326: Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter: Chronic Anticoagulation Therapy MIPS 438: Statin Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease MIPS 441: Ischemic Vascular Disease (IVD) All or None Outcome Measure (Optimal Control)

Appropriate Treatment

MIPS 052: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Spirometry Evaluation and Long-Acting MIPS 187: Stroke and Stroke Rehabilitation: Thrombolytic Therapy MIPS 418: Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a Fracture MIPS 445: Risk-Adjusted Operative Mortality for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)MIPS 448: Appropriate Workup Prior to Endometrial Ablation MIPS 465: Uterine Artery Embolization Technique: Documentation of Angiographic Endpoints

Official Resources

📄 CMS Measure Specification (PDF)🔗 QPP Quality Payment Program

Clinical Context

Clinical Rationale

Use of antiplatelet therapy has shown to reduce the occurrence of vascular events in patients with CAD, including myocardial infarction and death.

Clinical Recommendations

The following evidence statements are quoted verbatim from the referenced clinical guidelines. 2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Patients With Stable Ischemic Heart Disease (SIHD) (ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS, 2012) ANTIPLATELET THERAPY Treatment with aspirin 75 to 162 mg daily should be continued indefinitely in the absence of contraindications in patients with SIHD.

(Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence: A) Treatment with clopidogrel is reasonable when aspirin is contraindicated in patients with SIHD.

Implementation Notes

This measure contains one strata defined by a single submission criteria. This measure produces a single performance rate. For the purposes of MIPS implementation, this patient-process measure is submitted a minimum of once per patient during the performance period. The most advantageous quality data code will be used if the measure is submitted more than once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for MIPS 006?

All patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of CAD seen within a 12-month period.

Is MIPS 6 the same as MIPS 006?

Yes. CMS uses zero-padded three-digit Quality IDs (006) in official specifications, while clinicians often search for MIPS 6 or Quality ID 6 without the leading zero. Both refer to the same 2026 MIPS quality measure reported through the Quality Payment Program (QPP).

What codes do I submit for MIPS 006: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Antiplatelet Therapy?

Submission codes: 4086F (Aspirin or clopidogrel prescribed or currently being taken); 4086F with 8P (Aspirin or clopidogrel was not prescribed, reason not otherwise specified)

What is the NQF number for MIPS Measure 006?

MIPS Measure 006 is associated with CBE/NQF number 67. It can be reported through the Quality Payment Program (QPP) as a MIPS Clinical Quality Measure (CQM).

How do I report MIPS Measure 006 in 2026?

MIPS Measure 006 (Quality ID 6) is reported through the Quality Payment Program (QPP) as a MIPS Clinical Quality Measure (CQM) via qualified registry, or Medicare Part B claims where applicable.

Is MIPS 006 a topped-out measure?

Yes, MIPS 006 is currently topped out, which means most clinicians perform well on this measure and it may be subject to a 7-point scoring cap.

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