Appropriate Assessment of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters for Removal
Percentage of patients in whom a retrievable IVC filter is placed who, within 3 months post-placement, have a documented assessment for the appropriateness of continued filtration, device removal, or the inability to contact the patient with at least two attempts.
Last updated: January 15, 2026
🧮MIPS Score Simulator
Estimate only — actual CMS scoring may vary based on reporting method, data completeness, and annual rule updates.
📖Clinical Rationale
There is a need for increased physician awareness of the potential harms of inappropriate continued inferior vena cava filtration in patients with retrievable filters. Patients with retrievable inferior filters need to be carefully followed for re- assessment of the clinical need for continued inferior vena cava filtration, leading to removal of such devices when clinically appropriate.
Complexities of our healthcare system, notably the use of inferior vena cava filters in the in-patient setting, followed by transfer of care to physicians in the outpatient setting highlight the importance of patient follow-up for physicians placing retrievable inferior vena cava filters.
📝Clinical Recommendations
Retrievable filter complications have been increasingly noted in the FDA MAUDE database and in the literature. Retrievable filters were designed differently than permanent filters and the incidence of device related complications with long term insertions are higher than in comparison to permanent filters. The FDA has recommended that physicians that place these filters carefully monitor these patients and remove these filters at the earliest possible time.
Dedicated follow-up for IVC filters has led to an increase in retrieval rate. The FDA recommends that all physicians placing IVC Filters and those responsible for ongoing care of these patients remove the filter as soon as protection from pulmonary embolism is no longer needed. The FDA encourages follow-up on patients to consider risks and benefits of filter removal (1).
📋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 procedure measure is submitted each time a procedure is performed during the performance period. There is no diagnosis associated with this measure. Include only patients that have IVC filter placement through September 30 of the performance period.
This will allow the evaluation of at least 90 days of IVC filter removal within the performance period.
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