The last date for MIPS 2019 reporting is until March 31, 2020. This is the crunch time for healthcare organizations and MIPS qualified registries to compile data and report to CMS efficiently.

Finding the appropriate MIPS quality measures and taking care of the reporting guidelines is difficult but not impossible for large healthcare organizations. But, what about the small medical practices? Often, they neither have resources nor the up to date information to target a high score in the end.

So, if you’re a group of clinicians (15 or lesser) and want to participate in QPP MIPS to get incentives, this article is useful for you in MIPS 2019 reporting. So, let’s get started.

What Would Small Medical Groups Have to Do to Stay Safe from Penalties?

To stay safe from the penalty and negative payment adjustment, small medical practices have to make sure of the following points:

Report at least one patient for MIPS “Quality” performance category with six quality measures.

Report data for “Improvement Activities” with two medium or one high weighted measures related to this category that last for ninety-days.

Now we know the minimum performance requirements, the question remains how to accomplish this not-so-simple task of thirty points at the end.

Here are the four hacks to play safe.

STEP 1: Check Your Eligibility Status via QPP MIPS Participation Portal

Don’t jump into planning for MIPS 2019 reporting. First, verify your eligibility status.

Use your National Provider Identifier (NPI) to get an eligibility report. It will help you know if you’re eligible to participate as a small practice or not, via valid Tax Identification Number (TIN).

STEP 2: Analyze Data to Find Six Quality Measures that Apply to At Least One Patient

Whatever your practice specialty is, try to target those quality measures that are common and their criteria are easily achievable.

For Instance,

  • Advance Care Plan
  • Preventive Care and Screening for Influenza
  • Pneumococcal Vaccination Status for Adults
  • Documentation of current medications in the medical records
  • Preventive Care and Screening: Tobacco Use for screening and cessation intervention
  • Preventive Care and Screening: Unhealthy alcohol use for screening & brief counseling

STEP 3: Carefully Report Each Quality Measure with Accurate Documentation

Let’s go through an example. MIPS Qualified Registries when report data for “Documentation of the Current Medications on the Medical Records”, they are required to report data with the up-to-date medication list (Specified according to CPT and HCPCS codes) on the date of service performed. Plus the patient should be eighteen years or older.

In such a scenario, physicians or responsible authorities for MIPS 2019 reporting should find a date in which the records are maintained accurately to confirm medication.

STEP 4: Find Appropriate Measures to Report for Improvement Activities

Report on improvement activities for ninety days. Check out the following list of measures.

  • IA_BMH_4 – Depression Screening
  • IA_PSPA_31 – Patient Medication Risk Education
  • IA_BE_4 – Engagement of patients through implementation of improvements in the patient portal
  • IA_PM_16 – Implementation of medication management practice improvements
  • IA_EPA_1 – Provide 24/7 Access to MIPS Eligible Clinicians or Groups who have real-time access to Patient’s Medical Record
  • IA_PSPA_21 – Implementation of fall screening and assessment programs

Small medical practices can score at least thirty points and spot a guaranteed penalty-less spot in 2021 by submitting data as above-mentioned. We bet you even have a chance to go higher than the minimum required score only by consulting a professional MIPS Qualified registry as P3 Healthcare Solutions.

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