2021 MIPS Improvement Activities

Provide 24/7 access to MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, or care teams for advice about urgent and emergent care (e.g., MIPS eligible clinician and care team access to medical record, cross-coverage with access to medical record, or protocol-driven nurse line with access to medical record) that could include one or more of the following:

• Expanded hours in evenings and weekends with access to the patient medical record (e.g., coordinate with small practices to provide alternate hour office visits and urgent care);
• Use of alternatives to increase access to care team by MIPS eligible clinicians and groups, such as e-visits, phone visits, group visits, home visits and alternate locations (e.g., senior centers and assisted living centers); and/or
• Provision of same-day or next-day access to a consistent MIPS eligible clinician, group or care team when needed for urgent care or transition management.

Increase patient access to eligible clinicians who work in an outpatient setting with the goal of reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.

Evidence of demonstrated patient care provided outside of normal business hours through expanded practice hours and by eligible clinicians with real-time access to patient’s electronic health record (EHR), or that patients received needed urgent or transitional care in a timely way. Expanded Business Hours are defined as hours that are outside of a practice’s standard business hours of operation. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Patient record from EHR – A patient record from an EHR with date and timestamp indicating services provided outside of the practice’s normal business hours for that eligible clinician (a certified EHR may be used for documentation purposes, but is not required unless attesting for the Promoting Interoperability bonus); OR
2) Patient encounter/medical record/claim – Patient encounter/medical record/claim indicating patient was seen or services provided outside of the practice’s normal business hours for that eligible clinician including use of telehealth visits; OR
3) Same or next-day patient encounter/medical record/claim – Patient encounter/medical record/claim indicating patient was seen same-day or next-day by the eligible clinician or practice initially contacted for urgent or transitional care.

Use of telehealth services and analysis of data for quality improvement, such as participation in remote specialty care consults or teleaudiology pilots that assess ability to still deliver quality care to patients.

Increase use of telehealth services, thus removing geographic and time barriers to access, and use data from these services to implement quality improvement initiatives.

Evidence of documented use of telehealth services. For purposes of this activity, telehealth services are defined as "real-time" interaction between eligible clinician and patient. Include the following element:

1) Use of telehealth services – Demonstration of a standardized and routine approach to the use of telehealth. Telehealth services may include care provided over the phone, online, etc., and are not limited to the Medicare reimbursed telehealth service criteria. Examples of documentation include a) claims adjudication (may use G codes to validate); b) electronic health record (EHR); or c) other medical record document showing specific telehealth services, consults, or referrals performed for a patient.

Collection of patient experience and satisfaction data on access to care and development of an improvement plan, such as outlining steps for improving communications with patients to help understanding of urgent access needs.

Develop an improvement plan informed by patient experience and satisfaction data, including any differences across demographic groups, so that eligible clinicians can use data-driven approaches to improve patient access and quality of care.

Evidence of documented improvement plan for access to care and quality based on collected and stratified patient experience and satisfaction data. The goals for improvement can be defined broadly or within certain population strata. CMS examples of stratification may include patient demographics such as race/ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or geography. (It is acknowledged that some stratification data may not be available). Include both of the following elements:

1) Patient experience and satisfaction data on access to care – Data collected through a patient experience survey for a population defined by the eligible clinician. For example, eligible clinicians could give the survey to all patients seen within a defined study period. Data can be prepared in any useful format, or as they were collected; AND
2) Improvement plan – Documentation of an improvement plan, which should include specific activities, goals, and outcomes for addressing access to care. For example, an eligible clinician may observe that non-English-speaking patients were not confident in their interactions with eligible clinicians because of language barriers. A possible plan could include using translators, remote translation services, or language training. The improvement plan would include details regarding who would be trained with timelines for completion.

As a result of Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization technical assistance, performance of additional activities that improve access to services or improve care coordination (for example, investment of on-site diabetes educator).

Use learnings from engagement with Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) technical assistance to design, plan, and initiate implementation of new activities, ultimately improving access to services or care coordination.

Evidence of implementation of newly added processes, practices, resources, or technology to improve access to services or improve care coordination as a result of receiving QIN-QIO technical assistance. Include both of the following elements:

1) Relationship with QIN-QIO technical assistance – Confirmation of technical assistance and documentation of relationship with QIN-QIO (e.g., signed letter of agreement, email exchange); AND
2) Activities – Documentation of planned and/or tested activities that improve access or improve care coordination, including support for newly offered services.

User participation in the Quality Payment Program website testing is an activity for eligible clinicians who have worked with CMS to provide substantive, timely, and responsive input to improve the CMS Quality Payment Program website through product user-testing that enhances system and program accessibility, readability and responsiveness as well as providing feedback for developing tools and guidance thereby allowing for a more user-friendly and accessible clinician and practice Quality Payment Program website experience.

Help CMS improve the content provided on the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website.

Evidence of user participation and implementation of website testing for the QPP. Eligible clinicians must be verified on CMS User/Tester list and be able to share at least one of the following elements:

1) Improvement input – Documentation of specific input to improve the CMS QPP website through product user-testing aimed at enhancing system and program accessibility, readability, and responsiveness (e.g., saved emails, Word document with notes); OR
2) Tool/guidance development feedback – Documentation of specific feedback for developing tools and guidance for a more efficient and accessible clinician and practice QPP website experience (e.g., saved emails, Word document with notes).

Individual MIPS eligible clinicians and groups who prescribe anti-coagulation medications (including, but not limited to oral Vitamin K antagonist therapy, including warfarin or other coagulation cascade inhibitors) must attest that for 75 percent of their ambulatory care patients receiving these medications are being managed with support from one or more of the following improvement activities:

• Participation in a systematic anticoagulation program (coagulation clinic, patient self-reporting program, or patient self-management program);
• Patients are being managed by an anticoagulant management service, that involves systematic and coordinated care, incorporating comprehensive patient education, systematic prothrombin time (PT-INR) testing, tracking, follow-up, and patient communication of results and dosing decisions;
• Patients are being managed according to validated electronic decision support and clinical management tools that involve systematic and coordinated care, incorporating comprehensive patient education, systematic PT-INR testing, tracking, follow-up, and patient communication of results and dosing decisions;
• For rural or remote patients, patients are managed using remote monitoring or telehealth options that involve systematic and coordinated care, incorporating comprehensive patient education, systematic PT-INR testing, tracking, follow-up, and patient communication of results and dosing decisions; or
• For patients who demonstrate motivation, competency, and adherence, patients are managed using either a patient self-testing (PST) or patient-self-management (PSM) program.

Improve patient understanding and adherence while reducing the risk of medication errors and adverse drug events.

Evidence of participation by patients who have anti-coagulation medication prescriptions in one or more of the clinical practice improvement activities listed in the Activity Description. Include all of the following elements:

1) Patients receiving anti-coagulation medications – Total number of outpatients prescribed oral Vitamin K antagonist therapy (e.g., claims, electronic health record report); AND
2) Percentage of that total being managed by one of the methods of care in the Activity Description – Number of outpatients prescribed oral Vitamin K antagonist therapy and who are being managed by one or more of the four activities in the Activity Description; AND
3) Patient-centered plan – Documentation that the plan addresses patients' language and communication needs, literacy level, and cognitive and functional limitations.

Participating in a Rural Health Clinic (RHC), Indian Health Service Medium Management (IHS), or Federally Qualified Health Center in ongoing engagement activities that contribute to more formal quality reporting, and that include receiving quality data back for broader quality improvement and benchmarking improvement which will ultimately benefit patients. Participation in Indian Health Service, as an improvement activity, requires MIPS eligible clinicians and groups to deliver care to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native populations in the U.S. and in the course of that care implement continuous clinical practice improvement including reporting data on quality of services being provided and receiving feedback to make improvements over time.

Improve quality of care and formal quality improvement and reporting for Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, populations served by Rural Health Clinics (RHC), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

Evidence of quality improvement activity participation as part of RHC, Indian Health Service (HIS), or FQHC participation. By vulnerable populations/patients, CMS is referring to racial and ethnic minorities, refugees, those who are elderly, financially disadvantaged, or without health insurance, and those who have a disability or medical condition which are associated with disparities in outcomes across populations. Include both of the following elements:

1) Name of RHC, IHS or FQHC – Identified name of RHC, IHS, or FQHC in which the eligible clinician participates in ongoing engagement activities; AND
2) Continuous quality improvement activities - Documented continuous quality improvement activities aimed at services provided to RHC, IHS, or FQHC patients. To the extent possible, these quality improvement activities should contribute to more formal quality reporting, and should include receiving quality data back for broader quality and benchmarking improvement (e.g., data reports or dashboards tied to quality improvement projects).

For outpatient Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and who are prescribed antidiabetic agents (e.g., insulin, sulfonylureas), MIPS eligible clinicians and groups must attest to having: 

For the first performance year, at least 60 percent of medical records with documentation of an individualized glycemic treatment goal that: 

• a) Takes into account patient-specific factors, including, at least 1) age, 2) comorbidities, and 3) risk for hypoglycemia, and
• b) Is reassessed at least annually.

The performance threshold will increase to 75 percent for the second performance year and onward.

Clinician would attest that, 60 percent for first year, or 75 percent for the second year, of their medical records that document individualized glycemic treatment represent patients who are being treated for at least 90 days during the performance period.

Improve diabetes care by defining and documenting individualize glycemic control goals.

Evidence of report identifying diabetic patients who are taking diabetes medication and have documented glycemic treatment goals based on patient-specific factors. Include all of the following elements:

1) Diabetic patients prescribed antidiabetic agents – Total number of outpatients who are diabetic and prescribed antidiabetic agents; AND
2) Percentage of that total with glycemic treatment goals – Percentage of outpatient Medicare beneficiaries, who are diabetic and prescribed antidiabetic agents, with documented glycemic treatment goals. The goals must encompass patient-specific factors, including at least: a) age, b) comorbidities, and c) risk for hypoglycemia; AND
3) Annual assessment – Documented evidence of annual assessment for patients receiving glycemic treatment services (e.g., list of patients flagged for reassessment the following year, dated chart notes in an electronic health record).

Take steps to improve health status of communities, such as collaborating with key partners and stakeholders to implement evidenced-based practices to improve a specific chronic condition. Refer to the local Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for additional steps to take for improving health status of communities as there are many steps to select from for satisfying this activity. QIOs work under the direction of CMS to assist MIPS eligible clinicians and groups with quality improvement, and review quality concerns for the protection of beneficiaries and the Medicare Trust Fund.

Improve specific chronic condition health outcomes for community populations served by an eligible clinician or practice by implementing evidence-based practices and partnership with a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

Evidence of implementation of activity to improve specific chronic condition (e.g., diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension) for specific identified population within the community. Include both of the following elements:

1) Documentation of partnership in the community – Screenshot of QIO website or other correspondence that identifies your organization as one of the key partners and stakeholders and that lists the activity that will be implemented, with details on the specific chronic condition and population targeted; AND
2) Plan for improving community health – QIO report, document, or correspondence detailing steps being taken to satisfy the activity. May include: timeline, purpose, anticipated outcome(s), and relevant tools (e.g., Population Health Toolkit).

Take steps to improve healthcare disparities, such as Population Health Toolkit or other resources identified by CMS, the Learning and Action Network, Quality Innovation Network, or National Coordinating Center. Refer to the local Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for additional steps to take for improving health status of communities as there are many steps to select from for satisfying this activity. QIOs work under the direction of CMS to assist eligible clinicians and groups with quality improvement, and review quality concerns for the protection of beneficiaries and the Medicare Trust Fund.

Decrease healthcare disparities and improve health status in underserved communities.

Evidence of activity to decrease health disparities. Include both of the following elements:

1) Resources used to decrease disparities – Copies of resources used (e.g., Population Health Toolkit, Learning Action Network materials); AND
2) Documentation of action plan – Report detailing activity with a plan of action to decrease specific identified disparities, using the resources specified. This plan should include evidence of the health disparity targeted, detailed plan for improvement, and the specific outcomes targeted for improvement.

Use of a QCDR to generate regular feedback reports that summarize local practice patterns and treatment outcomes, including for vulnerable populations.

Increase knowledge of practice patterns and treatment outcomes to better serve patients, including vulnerable populations.

Evidence of use of qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) data and support to identify local/geographical practice patterns and clinical outcomes, particularly among underserved, vulnerable, and special-needs populations. By vulnerable populations/patients, CMS is referring to racial and ethnic minorities, refugees, those who are elderly, financially disadvantaged, or without health insurance, and those who have a disability or medical condition which are associated with disparities in outcomes across populations. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) QCDR agreement – Documented arrangement with a QCDR to generate feedback reports summarizing local practice patterns and treatment outcomes, including for vulnerable populations; OR
2) Feedback reports – Copies of feedback reports provided by a QCDR that summarize local practice patterns and treatment outcomes with focus on vulnerable populations.

Implementation of regular reviews of targeted patient population needs, such as structured clinical case reviews, which includes access to reports that show unique characteristics of eligible clinician's patient population, identification of vulnerable patients, and how clinical treatment needs are being tailored, if necessary, to address unique needs and what resources in the community have been identified as additional resources.

Improve understanding of targeted populations’ unique needs in order to create tailored clinical treatments and better utilize community resources.

Evidence of participation in reviews of targeted patient population needs. Include the first element and at least one of the subsequent elements:

1) Targeted patient population identification – Documentation of method for identification and ongoing monitoring of a targeted patient population (e.g., policy or protocol); AND
2) Report on population’s unique characteristics and needs – Report that compiles information on the unique characteristics of the targeted patient population, including disparities in relevant outcomes; ways to tailor clinical treatments/medical records to meet needs and reduce disparities (e.g., clinicians treating African American men, who have a higher incidence of prostate cancer, may choose to evaluate that population for consistency of screening); and lists of community resources that can further support patients with these needs outside of the clinical setting; OR
3) Peer review – Evidence of participation in peer review of clinical cases for patients in targeted population (e.g., results from peer review, meeting minutes).

Empanel (assign responsibility for) the total population, linking each patient to a MIPS eligible clinician or group or care team.

Empanelment is a series of processes that assign each active patient to a MIPS eligible clinician or group and/or care team, confirm assignment with patients and clinicians, and use the resultant patient panels as a foundation for individual patient and population health management. 

Empanelment identifies the patients and population for whom the MIPS eligible clinician or group and/or care team is responsible and is the foundation for the relationship continuity between patient and MIPS eligible clinician or group /care team that is at the heart of comprehensive primary care. Effective empanelment requires identification of the “active population” of the practice: those patients who identify and use your practice as a source for primary care. There are many ways to define “active patients” operationally, but generally, the definition of “active patients” includes patients who have sought care within the last 24 to 36 months, allowing inclusion of younger patients who have minimal acute or preventive health care.

Strengthen patient-clinician relationships, making it possible to provide comprehensive, patient-centered primary care.

Evidence of patient population empanelment including use of panels for health management. Include both of the following elements:

1) Active population empanelment – Identification and selected operational definition of "active population" of the practice with empanelment and assignment confirmation linking patients to eligible clinician or care team (e.g., electronic health record report, Excel document); AND
2) Process for updating panel – Documented policy and/or process for review and update of panel assignments (e.g., detailed policy about frequency of review, stepwise guidance document for how to empanel new patients or reassign existing patients).

In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must manage chronic and preventive care for empaneled patients (that is, patients assigned to care teams for the purpose of population health management), which could include one or more of the following actions:

• Provide patients annually with an opportunity for development and/or adjustment of an individualized plan of care as appropriate to age and health status, including health risk appraisal; gender, age and condition-specific preventive care services; and plan of care for chronic conditions;
• Use evidence based, condition-specific pathways for care of chronic conditions (for example, hypertension, diabetes, depression, asthma, and heart failure). These might include, but are not limited to, the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP) and the NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program (HSRP);
• Use pre-visit planning, that is, preparations for conversations or actions to propose with patient before an in-office visit to optimize preventive care and team management of patients with chronic conditions;
• Use panel support tools, (that is, registry functionality) or other technology that can use clinical data to identify trends or data points in patient records to identify services due;
• Use predictive analytical models to predict risk, onset and progression of chronic diseases; and/or
• Use reminders and outreach (e.g., phone calls, emails, postcards, patient portals, and community health workers where available) to alert and educate patients about services due; and/or routine medication reconciliation.

Improve effectiveness, efficiency, and patient-centeredness of preventive and chronic care provided to empaneled patients.

Evidence of chronic and preventative care management for empaneled patients via an individualized plan of care as appropriate to age and health status, including a) health risk appraisal; b) gender, age, and condition-specific preventive care services (e.g., managing cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes); and c) plan of care for chronic conditions (could use electronic health record [EHR] or medical records). Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Individualized plan of care – Documented indication of annual opportunity for development and/or adjustment of an individualized plan of care appropriate to age and health status (e.g., EHR alert or dated medical record note). Plan of care may include disease-specific services, such as Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSME/S) services and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT); OR
2) Condition-specific pathways – Documented use of evidenced-based condition-specific pathways for chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, depression, asthma, heart failure). These might include, but are not limited to, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP) and the NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program (HSRP); OR
3) Pre-visit planning – Use of pre-visit planning to optimize preventive care and team management (e.g., workflow indicating pre-visit planning process); OR
4) Panel support tools – Use of panel support tools (e.g., registry or other technology) to identify services that are due in patient records; OR
5) Reminders and outreach – Use of reminders and outreach (e.g., phone calls, emails, postcards, patient portals) to alert and educate patients about services due and/or routine medication reconciliation (e.g., workflow indicating reminder and outreach process, outreach language, screenshot of reminders); OR
6) Risk prediction report – Documentation of the predictive analytical models used to predict risk, onset, and progression of chronic diseases for patient population.

Provide longitudinal care management to patients at high risk for adverse health outcome or harm that could include one or more of the following: 

• Use a consistent method to assign and adjust global risk status for all empaneled patients to allow risk stratification into actionable risk cohorts. Monitor the risk-stratification method and refine as necessary to improve accuracy of risk status identification; 
• Use a personalized plan of care for patients at high risk for adverse health outcome or harm, integrating patient goals, values and priorities; and/or
• Use on-site practice-based or shared care managers to proactively monitor and coordinate care for the highest risk cohort of patients.

Improve health outcomes and patient-centeredness of care for patients at high-risk for adverse health outcomes or harm.

Evidence of longitudinal, or relationship-based, care management of patients at high-risk for adverse health outcomes as defined by the eligible clinician. Include both of the following elements:

1) List of high-risk patients – Identification of patients at high-risk for adverse health outcome or harm; AND
2) Use of longitudinal care management – Documented use of longitudinal care management methods including at least one of the following: a) empaneled patient risk assignment and risk stratification into actionable risk cohorts; b) personalized care plans for patients at high risk for adverse health outcome or harm; or c) evidence of use of care managers to monitor and coordinate care for highest risk cohorts.

A cardiologist practice learns that a high percentage of their congestive heart failure (CHF) patients are being re-admitted to the hospital within 30 days of a previous admission for CHF. The cardiology group undertakes practice changes to minimize total CHF hospital admissions. Initially, they identify their population in a manner most appropriate to their practice. Examples might include the stage of CHF or patients with any hospital admission within a certain period of time. Then they team with their nursing staff to create a plan that includes an initial discussion with each patient and plans for monitoring weight and diet daily and on a regular basis by phone, email, or electronic medical record patient portal. Additionally, the patients in the cohort are given access to a direct nursing phone line for questions or with specific concerns such as sudden weight gain. An example of a goal would be identification of sudden weight gain with subsequent temporary increases in diuretic dosing, all completed at home.

Provide episodic care management, including management across transitions and referrals that could include one or more of the following:

• Routine and timely follow-up to hospitalizations, ED visits and stays in other institutional settings, including symptom and disease management, and medication reconciliation and management; and/or
• Managing care intensively through new diagnoses, injuries and exacerbations of illness.

Use episodic care management to improve quality of care and communication across referrals and transitions of care.

Evidence of episodic care management practice improvements. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Follow-up on hospitalizations, emergency department (ED), or other visits, and medication management – Routine and timely follow-up to hospitalizations, ED, or other institutional visits, and medication reconciliation and management (e.g., documented in medical record or electronic health record [EHR]); OR
2) New diagnoses, injuries and exacerbations – Intensive care management at time of new diagnoses, injuries, and exacerbations of illness documented in medical record or EHR.

An oncology practice chooses to implement processes to streamline the initial evaluation and care planning of cancer patients. The practice noted previous inefficiencies as related to biomarker testing and therefore, as part of the process development, they identified attributes to biomarker testing that will be beneficial to efficiency improvements:

• Implement and document frequent multidisciplinary meetings that engage medical oncologists early in biomarker testing workflow.
• Set up direct lines of communication between payers and practices to prevent unnecessary back-and-forth clarifications.
• Codify prior authorization requirements for the most common payer organizations to streamline coverage decisions.
• Institute standard reflexive policies of most common tests for first line treatment decisions triggered by diagnosis.
• Implement modern electronic forms for test ordering and communication platforms between medical oncologists and pathology.
• Enact and document specimen logistics best practices that streamline shipping to external labs.

Manage medications to maximize efficiency, effectiveness and safety that could include one or more of the following: 

• Reconcile and coordinate medications and provide medication management across transitions of care settings and eligible clinicians or groups; 
• Integrate a pharmacist into the care team; and/or
• Conduct periodic, structured medication reviews.

Maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of care across settings by strengthening medication management.

Evidence of newly implemented medication management practice improvements. Eligible clinicians should include all prescriptions, over-the-counters, herbals, and vitamin/mineral/dietary (nutritional) supplements a patient is currently taking within the purview of the medication management process. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Documented medication reconciliation – Patient medical records demonstrating periodic structured medication reviews or reconciliation, which includes updating, reviewing, or obtaining each medication’s name, dosage, frequency, and administered route; OR
2) Integrated pharmacist – Evidence of pharmacist integrated into care team; OR
3) Reconciliation across transitions – Patient medical record demonstrating medication reconciliation at the time of the transition. For example, when a patient is being discharged from hospital to home, the reconciliation would be completed at discharge from a hospital by the discharging eligible clinician and at follow-up by the outpatient and/or primary eligible clinician; OR
4) Medication management improvement plan – Report detailing medication management practice improvement plan, and outcomes, if available. For example, the "Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Create a Safe Medicine List Together" strategy could be implemented.

Participation in federally and/or privately funded research that identifies interventions, tools, or processes that can improve a targeted patient population.

Contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions, tools, or processes for improving health outcomes.

Evidence supporting participation in a federally and/or privately funded research initiative to identify systems, tools, or strategies that improve patient outcomes for a targeted population. Include both of the following elements:

1) Confirmed participation – Documentation of participation in a federally and/or privately funded research initiative; AND
2) Research intervention details – List of the interventions, tools, or processes used in the research including identified population(s) and health outcomes targeted.

Engaging community health workers to provide a comprehensive link to community resources through family-based services focusing on success in health, education, and self-sufficiency. This activity supports individual MIPS eligible clinicians or groups that coordinate with primary care and other clinicians, engage and support patients, use of health information technology, and employ quality measurement and improvement processes. An example of this community based program is the NCQA Patient-Centered Connected Care (PCCC) Recognition Program or other such programs that meet these criteria.

Help patients and families access the right community resources for improving/maintaining health, education, and self-sufficiency with support from community health workers.

Evidence of engagement with community health workers to provide a comprehensive link to community resources and family-based services with an emphasis on improving health, education, and self-sufficiency. Include all of the following elements:

1) Community health worker engagement – Documentation of active engagement with community health workers to collaborate in helping patients served by the practice address risk factors related to social determinants of health (e.g., electronic health records referencing community health worker engagement, paperwork related to engagement of community health workers); AND
2) Coordination and patient engagement –Documentation of coordination with primary care and other eligible clinicians to engage and support patients (e.g., use of health information technology); AND
3) Measure and monitoring – Evidence of use of quality measurement and improvement processes (e.g., National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient-Centered Connected Care [PCCC] Recognition Program or similar programs) to continuously improve engagement and coordination with community health workers and other clinicians in an effort to improve patient wellbeing and health (e.g., dashboards, reports).

A primary healthcare practice may work with community health workers to help patients with limited English language skills understand and adhere to new plans for diet and medication, learn how to use and manage medical equipment, and provide information on local support groups for people with diabetes. The community health workers report back to the eligible clinicians at the primary healthcare practice; the eligible clinicians then communicate as relevant to other eligible clinicians providing care to the patients and monitor to improve community health worker engagement and the outcomes of the patients they see.

Information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Community Health Workers Toolkit: https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/toolkits/chw-toolkit.htm
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Clinical to Community Connections: https://www.astho.org/Community-Health-Workers/

For at-risk outpatient Medicare beneficiaries, individual MIPS eligible clinicians and groups must attest to implementation of systematic preventive approaches in clinical practice for at least 60 percent for the 2018 performance period and 75 percent in future years, of electronic medical records with documentation of screening patients for abnormal blood glucose according to current US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and/or American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines.

Screen more patients at risk for diabetes.

Evidence demonstrating the implementation of an abnormal blood glucose screening program focused on at-risk populations. The population/s for this activity are to be defined by the eligible clinician and might include (but are not limited to): patients over a certain Body Mass Index, patients with a family history of diabetes, or patients of an at-risk race or ethnicity. Include both of the following elements:

1) At-risk population identified – Total stratified number of Medicare patients at risk for abnormal blood glucose; AND
2) Percent of population screened – Total number and percentage of at-risk population screened for abnormal blood glucose as outlined by the US Preventive Services Task Force and/or American Diabetes Association guidelines.

For at-risk outpatient Medicare beneficiaries, individual MIPS eligible clinicians and groups must attest to implementation of systematic preventive approaches in clinical practice for at least 60 percent for the CY 2018 performance period and 75 percent in future years, of medical records with documentation of referring eligible patients with prediabetes to a CDC-recognized diabetes prevention program operating under the framework of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Refer more patients with pre-diabetes to a recognized preventive program to help prevent or slow disease progression.

Evidence demonstrating the implementation of a comprehensive approach for screening for prediabetes. Include both of the following elements:

1) Identified Medicare patients at-risk – Total stratified number of Medicare patients at risk for abnormal blood glucose as outlined by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and/or American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines; AND
2) Percentage of patients receiving diabetes prevention program referral – Total number and percentage of the at-risk population receiving referral to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized diabetes prevention program operating under the framework of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Implementation of practices/processes to develop advance care planning that includes: documenting the advance care plan or living will within the medical record, educating clinicians about advance care planning motivating them to address advance care planning needs of their patients, and how these needs can translate into quality improvement, educating clinicians on approaches and barriers to talking to patients about end-of-life and palliative care needs and ways to manage its documentation, as well as informing clinicians of the healthcare policy side of advance care planning.

Increase the frequency and quality of advanced care planning and documentation.

Evidence supporting implementation of practices/processes to improve advance care planning. Include all of the following elements:

1) Documentation approach – Standardized approach to documenting advance care plan or living will within the medical record (e.g., a medical record template or other defined, standardized method to include specific attributes defined by the eligible clinician) and storage of any relevant copies of patient documents when appropriate; AND
2) Patient identification – Identification of the population of patients, as defined by the eligible clinician (e.g., all patients over 65, patients with specific diagnoses, all patients) who would be subject to the eligible clinician’s practices/processes for encouraging advance care planning; AND
3) Eligible clinician education on advance care planning – Documentation of eligible clinician education (e.g., training curriculum or agenda, training materials) on approaches to advance care planning at the level of the individual patient.

Performance of regular practices that include providing specialist reports back to the referring individual MIPS eligible clinician or group to close the referral loop or where the referring individual MIPS eligible clinician or group initiates regular inquiries to specialist for specialist reports which could be documented or noted in the EHR technology.

Improve clinician-to-clinician communication to prevent delayed and/or inappropriate treatment while increasing patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

Evidence that relevant records from patient/consultant (internal or external specialist) interactions are sent to the referring eligible clinician. Include both of the following elements:

1) Report – Evidence that the consultant always sends a report to the referring eligible clinician; AND
2) Process for capturing referral information – Evidence that the referring eligible clinician has a defined method for capturing reports in the medical record (e.g., a) reports transmitted between electronic health records [EHRs]; b) documents that are electronically scanned and linked to the patient’s EHR; or c) chart documentation of the relevant details of the consultant patient interaction such as notes written into a progress note).

Timely communication of test results defined as timely identification of abnormal test results with timely follow-up.

Reduce risk of patient harm that occurs when abnormal test results are not delivered in a timely way.

Evidence of a process that reduces the time needed before communicating test results to the patient. The eligible clinician may define the population of patients within their practice for the improvement based on specific test ordered, patient diagnosis, or another factor. Include all of the following elements:

1) Population identified – Characteristics of the population targeted and methods for capturing the entire population within your practice; AND
2) Documentation of method/s of communication and benchmark for timeliness of communication – The benchmark for timeliness of communication can be determined and measured in a variety of ways and should be defined by the eligible clinician in a way that will best meet the goals of the activity (e.g., actual times from an electronic health record or improvements in customer service reviews); AND
3) Improvement strategies – The strategies used to improve timeliness are defined and must be documented by the eligible clinician.

• An internal medicine eligible clinician chooses to follow their population of diabetic patients with a focus on the HbA1c blood test. Traditionally, they do not communicate those test results outside of patient visits. The plan to meet the activity is to communicate normal results with a congratulatory note by email or mail and to communicate abnormal results by phone to ensure the patient understands the need for management of blood sugar more effectively. In this case, the eligible clinician improved the timely communication to meet the activity and also added context relevant to the patient population.
• A radiology group that has a busy mammography practice routinely communicates normal mammogram results within 1-2 weeks and abnormal results are followed up with a phone call by a nurse. The radiology group decides to focus on all patients with a prior diagnosis of breast cancer. They develop a process to capture 100% of patients with prior history at the time of their mammogram and they provide real-time results to those patients by the radiologist. They improve the time to results on the identified population and significantly reduce the anxiety of waiting for a group of patients who are most prone to anxiety.

Implementation of regular care coordination training.

Utilize preferred practice patterns within your practice to improve care coordination.

Evidence of participation in/implementation of regular care coordination training within the attestation period. Include the following element:

1) Care coordination training – Examples include availability of care coordination training curriculum/training materials and attendance or training certification registers/documents.

Implementation of practices/processes that document care coordination activities (e.g., a documented care coordination encounter that tracks all clinical staff involved and communications from date patient is scheduled for outpatient procedure through day of procedure).

Develop and utilize processes that improve care coordination outcomes.

The eligible clinician identifies an area within their practice in which improved care coordination will improve an outcome. The area(s) for improvement, intervention strategies, and the outcome goals are to be defined by the eligible clinicians involved. Evidence of newly implemented processes and practices to improve care coordination, including both of the following elements:

1) Care coordination process documentation – Documentation of the implementation of practices/processes that document care coordination activities (e.g., record of meeting minutes to discuss changes, swim lane workflow diagram, agenda noting training on new practices/processes for staff, copy of old and new practices/processes on documenting care coordination activities); AND
2) Care coordination outcomes – Documentation of, or ability to demonstrate evidence of, the outcomes from newly implemented practices/processes.

An eligible family practice (FP) clinician frequently sees patients in follow-up after emergency department (ED) visits. The eligible clinician does not have immediate access to the ED records and the process of requesting the records is cumbersome and not practical at the time of follow-up. The eligible clinician works with the ED to create an automatic process within the electronic health record so that a brief summary of the ED visit is forwarded to the eligible clinician doing the follow-up. This would require that the eligible ED clinicians always document a brief summary even when they have not completed the full record and it would require information technology support to generate the email/fax, etc. All eligible clinicians involved (FP and ED) get credit for this activity.

Implementation of practices/processes, including a discussion on care, to develop regularly updated individual care plans for at-risk patients that are shared with the beneficiary or caregiver(s). Individual care plans should include consideration of a patient’s goals and priorities, as well as desired outcomes of care.

Develop, maintain, and share personalized care plans with at-risk patients to promote patient-centered care and improve patient experience.

Evidence of processes for developing and updating individual care plans for at-risk patients and sharing them with beneficiary and/or caregiver. Areas of focus and consideration might include social determinants of health, language and communication preferences, physical or cognitive limitations, as well as desired outcomes of care. Include both of the following elements:

1) Individual care plans for at-risk patients – Documentation of process for developing individual care plans for clinician-defined at-risk patients (e.g., template care plan, standardized type of note in the health record); AND
2) Use of care plan with beneficiary – Patient medical records demonstrating the documentation of the care plan using a standardized approach.

An eligible internal medicine clinician has a population within the practice of frail elderly patients who periodically miss appointments and have not refilled prescriptions. Many are at risk of falls. A plan is developed to identify all of these patients and create a template portion of the electronic health record that asks specific questions regarding caregiver support, ability to travel to appointments and the pharmacy, and the ability to get help whenever needed. The eligible clinician and staff work to help the patient identify solutions to problems.

In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must document practices/processes for care transition with documentation of how a MIPS eligible clinician or group carried out an action plan for the patient with the patient’s preferences in mind (that is, a “patient-centered” plan) during the first 30 days following a discharge. Examples of these practices/processes for care transition include: staff involved in the care transition; phone calls conducted in support of transition; accompaniments of patients to appointments or other navigation actions; home visits; patient information access to their medical records; real time communication between PCP and consulting clinicians; PCP included on specialist follow-up or transition communications.

Define and implement a standardized process for transitions of care that are relevant to the eligible clinician’s patient population.

Evidence of processes for preparing and implementing patient-centered care transition plans for the first 30 days following a discharge. Include at least two of the following elements:

1) Patient-centered care transition action plans – Documented plans to include out-patient follow-up, medication reconciliation, and post-discharge support. May include: a) patient communications and language preferences; b) available supports and services (medication availability and travel capability); c) patient’s discharge environment, or d) out-patient follow-up plan; OR
2) Implementation of action plan within first 30 days of discharge – May include: a) documentation of staff involved in the care transition; b) records of real-time communication between eligible primary care clinicians and consulting eligible clinicians; or c) records of eligible primary care clinicians included on specialist follow-up transition communication, etc.; OR
3) Patient communication and delivery of support services according to patient preferences within first 30 days of discharge – Examples from patient records that demonstrate conformity with patient preferences. May include: a) patient-preferred communication activities such as phone calls conducted in support of transition; b) accompaniments of patient to appointments or other navigation actions; c) home visits; patients’ access to their medical records; or d) translated discharge materials, etc.; OR
4) Processes for care transition planning – Documentation that defines the steps the eligible clinician will take to prepare and implement the patient-centered care transition plan with every patient.

Establish standard operations to manage transitions of care that could include one or more of the following: 

• Establish formalized lines of communication with local settings in which empaneled patients receive care to ensure documented flow of information and seamless transitions in care; and/or
• Partner with community or hospital-based transitional care services.

Enhance communication during care transitions to improve patient outcomes by establishing standard operations, or preferred practice patterns, for transition communications.

Evidence of information flow during transitions of care. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Communication lines with local settings – Documentation of standardized lines of communication to manage transitions of care between settings. Communication can occur in whatever format is most useful based on the circumstances of the eligible clinicians; OR
2) Partnership with community or hospital-based transitional care services – Documentation showing partnership with community or hospital-based transitional care services (e.g., written agreement, workflow documentation).

• A busy hospitalist group in a community hospital has heard complaints from eligible out-patient care primary care clinicians, who report that they are following up on discharged patients without understanding the details of the admission or the changes in medications made. To address this complaint, the hospitalist group creates an electronic health record-based system by which a discharge summary is completed within 24 hours of discharge and which is automatically sent to the patient’s eligible primary care clinician (email, fax, etc.). The summary includes medication reconciliation information.
• Emergency departments see many patients with chest pain daily. An emergency department (ED) eligible clinician group meets with the cardiology eligible clinician group to arrange for immediate follow-up on moderate-risk chest pain patients after patients have been cleared for discharge by the ED. A telephone conversation occurs between the eligible ED clinician and the eligible cardiologist for every discharged patient who will be seen within 24 hours for evaluation and exercise stress test.

Establish effective care coordination and active referral management that could include one or more of the following:

• Establish care coordination agreements with frequently used consultants that set expectations for documented flow of information and MIPS eligible clinician or MIPS eligible clinician group expectations between settings. Provide patients with information that sets their expectations consistently with the care coordination agreements; 
• Track patients referred to specialist through the entire process; and/or
• Systematically integrate information from referrals into the plan of care.

Improve processes for care coordination and active referral management, thus making care more effective and efficient, preventing risky delays and under-treatment, and increasing patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

Evidence of care coordination and referral management. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Care coordination agreements – Documentation of care coordination agreements that establish flow of information and provide patients with information to set consistent expectations; OR
2) Tracking of patient referrals to specialists – Medical record or electronic health record documentation demonstrating tracking of patients referred to specialists through the entire process; OR
3) Referral information integrated into the plan of care – Samples of specialist referral information systematically integrated into the plan of care.

Ensure that there is bilateral exchange of necessary patient information to guide patient care, such as Open Notes, that could include one or more of the following: 

• Participate in a Health Information Exchange if available; and/or 
• Use structured referral notes.

Utilize a program or process that provides an open exchange of necessary patient information between care teams and patients to guide patient care.

Evidence of exchange of patient information (between care team and patient) to guide patient care. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Participation in a Health Information Exchange (HIE) – Confirmation of participation in a health information exchange (e.g., email confirmation, screenshots demonstrating active engagement with HIE); OR
2) Utilization of OpenNotes – Clinical documentation from a medical record available in a patient portal.

If an eligible clinician is using a patient portal for bidirectional patient-client communication without employing Open Notes, they may find IA_BE_4, “Engagement of patients through implementation of improvements in patient portal” an applicable improvement activity to attest to.

Develop pathways to neighborhood/community-based resources to support patient health goals that could include one or more of the following: 

• Maintain formal (referral) links to community-based chronic disease self-management support programs, exercise programs and other wellness resources with the potential for bidirectional flow of information; and provide a guide to available community resources.
• Including through the use of tools that facilitate electronic communication between settings;
• Screen patients for health-harming legal needs;
• Screen and assess patients for social needs using tools that are preferably health IT enabled and that include to any extent standards-based, coded question/field for the capture of data as is feasible and available as part of such tool; and/or
• Provide a guide to available community resources.

Create formal links with community-based resources to improve patient’s health and address social determinants of health.

Evidence of availability of formal links to community-based health and wellness programs potentially including availability of resource guides that address identified social determinants of health. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Patient social service needs screener – Copy of implemented screener (e.g., survey tool) used to assess patients' social needs (e.g., health-harming legal needs). Preferably, the screening tool is electronically enabled and includes standards-based, coded question(s)/field(s) for the capture of data as feasible; OR
2) Provision of community resource guides – Medical record demonstrating provision of a guide to community resources to meet identified social determinants of health (e.g., safe housing, transportation, social support); OR
3) Relationship with community-based chronic disease self-management programs – Documented referral relationship with community-based chronic disease self-management support programs, exercise programs, and other wellness resources (including specific names) with which your organization has formal referral links and preferably bidirectional flow of information; OR
4) Relationship with community-based organization or social service program – Documented referral relationship with community-based organizations or service programs (including specific names) with which your organization has formal referral links and preferably bidirectional flow of information.

Participation in a Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) that provides a patient-centered, physician-led, interdisciplinary, and team-based system of coordinated patient care, which coordinates care from pre-procedure assessment through the acute care episode, recovery, and post-acute care. This activity allows for reporting of strategies and processes related to care coordination of patients receiving surgical or procedural care within a PSH. The clinician must perform one or more of the following care coordination activities:

• Coordinate with care managers/navigators in preoperative clinic to plan and implementation comprehensive post discharge plan of care;
• Deploy perioperative clinic and care processes to reduce post-operative visits to emergency rooms;
• Implement evidence-informed practices and standardize care across the entire spectrum of surgical patients; or
• Implement processes to ensure effective communications and education of patients’ post-discharge instructions.

Participate in a Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) model to improve coordination of patient care through the acute-care episode, recovery, and post-acute care.

Evidence of participation in a PSH model that provides a patient-centered, clinician-led, interdisciplinary, and team-based system of coordinated patient care. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Coordination with care managers/navigators in preoperative clinic – Documented conversations with care managers/navigators (e.g., electronic health record note) to plan and implement comprehensive post-discharge plan of care that could take into account patients' post-discharge environment and support system out of the hospital; OR
2) Perioperative care process improvements – Documentation of evidence-informed perioperative clinic and care processes implemented to standardize care across the spectrum of surgical patients (e.g., workflow diagrams, word document of written policies and procedures); OR 3) Patient education and improvement – Implement processes to ensure effective communication of and education on patients' discharge instructions, taking into account patients' literacy level, language and communication preferences, and cognitive or functional impairments.

The primary care and behavioral health practices use the same electronic health record system for shared patients or have an established bidirectional flow of primary care and behavioral health records.

Improve whole-person care by establishing bidirectional communication between eligible primary care clinicians and behavioral health practices for shared patients.

Evidence of collaboration and bidirectional flow of patient information between eligible primary care clinician(s) and behavioral health practice/s where electronic health records (EHRs) share common patients. Include the following element:

1) Communication exchange – Documentation of established bidirectional communication and information-sharing between primary care and behavioral health practices that share common patients or use the same EHR systems.

A small primary care practice of eligible clinicians finds that they often are not aware of the mental health issues their patients are being treated for, and in particular, are often unaware of additions or changes in psychiatric medications. The group does not have the ability to connect their electronic medical record with that of the mental healthcare clinicians and there is no health information exchange available. To solve their problem, they identified all patients with psychiatric medications prescribed outside their practice and all patients known to be receiving mental health treatment. With the patient’s permission, the notes from the mental health visits and associated medication information are faxed or emailed and medication reconciliation occurs with all medication changes.

Implement a Patient Navigator Program that offers evidence-based resources and tools to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions, utilizing a patient-centered and team-based approach, leveraging evidence-based best practices to improve care for patients by making hospitalizations less stressful, and the recovery period more supportive by implementing quality improvement strategies.

Reduce avoidable hospital readmissions and make hospital stays less stressful and recovery periods more supportive for patients.

Evidence of participation in a Patient Navigator Program (PNP) designed to meet this activity’s objective. Include all of the following elements:

1) PNP participation – Confirmation of participation in PNP. PNP should take into account patients' language and communication preferences, literacy level, and cognitive and physical disabilities; AND
2) Documentation of tools to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions – Tools should be evidence-based whenever possible; AND 3) Quality improvement strategies – Implementation of systems, tools, and strategies as part of the PNP that aim to achieve the objective of this activity. May include workflows and approaches that assist patients with communicating with eligible healthcare clinicians regarding their questions, obtaining information about their procedures/treatments, and arranging for test or appointments.

In order to receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must participate in a minimum of eight hours of training on relationship-centered care tenets such as making effective open-ended inquiries; eliciting patient stories and perspectives; listening and responding with empathy; using the ART (ask, respond, tell) communication technique to engage patients, and developing a shared care plan. The training may be conducted in formats such as, but not limited to: interactive simulations practicing the skills above, or didactic instructions on how to implement improvement action plans, monitor progress, and promote stability around improved clinician communication.

Improve quality of patient-clinician communication and interaction by attending training on relationship-centered care and communication techniques.

Evidence that the eligible clinician spent a minimum of eight hours of training focused on relationship-centered care. Include both of the following elements:

1) Certificate of completion – Documentation of completing 8 hours of training with patient-centered care training title, eligible clinician's name, and date of completion (e.g., certificate of completion, screenshot of module completion). The training may be conducted in formats such as, but not limited to: interactive simulations practicing the skills listed in the activity description, or didactic instructions on how to a) implement improvement action plans; b) monitor progress; and c) promote stability around improved clinician communication; AND
2) Details on patient-centered care training – Provide details on patient-centered care training components. Training should include such topics as: a) making effective open-ended inquires; b) eliciting patient stories and perspectives; c) listening and responding with empathy; d) using a specific technique such as ART (ask, respond, tell) to engage patients; or e) developing a shared care plan.

To receive credit for this improvement activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must attest that they reported MACRA patient relationship codes (PRC) using the applicable HCPCS modifiers on 50 percent or more of their Medicare claims for a minimum of a continuous 90-day period within the performance period. Reporting the PRC modifiers enables the identification of a clinician’s relationship with, and responsibility for, a patient at the time of furnishing an item or service. See the CY 2018 PFS final rule (82 FR 53232 through 53234) for more details on these codes.

Increase the utilization of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) patient relationship codes (PRC) using the applicable Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) modifiers on Medicare claims. Using PRC ensure that appropriate attribution is assigned to the appropriate eligible clinician. For example, it would be inappropriate to attribute the cost of an aortic aneurysm repair to the ophthalmologist who performed a cataract surgery in the same calendar year.

Documentation that MIPS eligible clinician(s) reported MACRA PRC using the applicable HCPCS modifiers on 50% or more of their Medicare claims MACRA patient relationship codes articulate the relationship and responsibility of an eligible clinician with a patient at the time of furnishing an item or service, thereby facilitating the attribution of patients and episodes to one or more eligible clinicians for purposes of cost measurement. Include the following element:

1) MACRA PRC HCPCS modifiers on 50% of Medicare claims – Documentation could be captured in the patient chart or electronic health record; note that the eligible clinician reported MACRA PRC using the applicable HCPCS modifiers on 50% or more of their Medicare claims for a continuous 90-day minimum reporting period within the performance year.

In support of improving patient access, performing additional activities that enable capture of patient reported outcomes (e.g., home blood pressure, blood glucose logs, food diaries, at-risk health factors such as tobacco or alcohol use, etc.) or patient activation measures through use of certified EHR technology, containing this data in a separate queue for clinician recognition and review.

Improve patient engagement through patient/clinician review of patient collected information or through assessment of a patient’s understanding, confidence, and ability to perform self-care.

Evidence of patient reported data and/or outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR). Include the following element:

1) Patient reported outcomes/self-management – Documentation demonstrating use of a tool that assesses a patient’s understanding, confidence, and ability to care for one’s self. Examples of a tool may include Patient Activation Measures, HowsYourHealth.org, HealthConfidence.org, and MedicareHealthAssess.org. The eligible clinician should incorporate the results of the assessment into the patient’s overall plan of care, as deemed most appropriate for their population. As necessary or helpful, also include patient’s data in the certified EHR.

Engagement with a Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization, which may include participation in self-management training programs such as diabetes.

Become more equipped to help patients self-manage their chronic conditions.

Evidence of Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) relationship to implement self-management training programs. Include the following element:

1) QIN-QIO engagement – Documentation from QIN-QIO of eligible clinician or group's engagement and use of services (e.g., email exchange, participation letter, listed on QIN-QIO website as partner) to assist with participation in self-management training program(s) such as the Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP).

To receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must provide access to an enhanced patient/caregiver portal that allows users (patients or caregivers and their clinicians) to engage in bidirectional information exchange. The primary use of this portal should be clinical and not administrative. Examples of the use of such a portal include, but are not limited to: brief patient reevaluation by messaging; communication about test results and follow up; communication about medication adherence, side effects, and refills; blood pressure management for a patient with hypertension; blood sugar management for a patient with diabetes; or any relevant acute or chronic disease management.

Increase patient engagement, adherence to treatment plans, and self-management of chronic conditions through the availability of a patient portal within the electronic health record (EHR).

Evidence of a functioning patient portal that includes patient interactive features or up-to-date information on disease or symptom management. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Enhanced patient portal screenshots – Documentation through screenshots of an enhanced patient portal that displays at least one of the following functions or features: a) bidirectional communication between patient and eligible clinician or care team (e.g., messaging for questions, medication refills, appointment scheduling); or b) availability of health information and education regarding the patient’s conditions; OR
2) Patient portal use reports – Reports of patient portal engagement detailing patient use of interactive functions (e.g., bidirectional communication between patient and eligible clinician or care team about medication changes and adherence).

If an eligible clinician is using Open Notes (https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=193efc00-456bf5d0-193ecd3f-0cc47a6a52...) for bidirectional patient-clinician communication, they may find IA_CC_13, “Practice Improvements for Bilateral Exchange of Patient Information”, an applicable activity to attest to.

Enhancements and ongoing regular updates and use of websites/tools that include consideration for compliance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or for improved design for patients with cognitive disabilities. Refer to the CMS website on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/Section508/index.html?redirect=/InfoTechGenInfo/07_Section508.asp that requires that institutions receiving federal funds solicit, procure, maintain and use all electronic and information technology (EIT) so that equal or alternate/comparable access is given to members of the public with and without disabilities. For example, this includes designing a patient portal or website that is compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Ensure eligible clinicians' website content and tools more accessible to people with disabilities.

Evidence that updated practice website/tools are compliant with Section 508 and thus provide improved access for patients with disabilities. Include both of the following elements:

1) Regular updates and Section 508 compliance process – Documentation of a process for regular updates and ensuring Section 508 compliance for the eligible clinician's patient portal or website; AND

2) Compliant website/tools – Screenshots or hard copies of the practice's website/tools demonstrating key aspects of Section 508 compliance.

Find 508 compliance information at https://www.section508.gov/.

Collection and follow-up on patient experience and satisfaction data on beneficiary engagement, including development of improvement plan.

Improve patients' experience of and satisfaction with care by gathering and applying learnings from relevant data.

Evidence that patient experience and satisfaction data are collected and that follow-up occurs through an improvement plan. Include at least two of the following elements:

1) Report of patient experience and satisfaction – Report including collected data on patient experience and satisfaction (e.g., survey results). The eligible clinician or practice must use a third-party administrator; AND/OR
2) Follow-up on patient experience and satisfaction – Documentation of follow-up on patient experience and satisfaction (e.g., specific improvements made to practices/processes in response to survey results); AND/OR
3) Patient experience and satisfaction improvement plan – Documentation of a patient experience and satisfaction improvement plan.

• A third-party administrator offers patients of the practice the option to fill out a questionnaire after their visit. A) The practice finds that a consistent complaint is the long wait times and that the practice is losing patients as a result. The practice develops a plan to address wait times. B) The practice finds that there are multiple complaints about a single eligible clinician that include poor listening skills and a tendency to rush in and out of the room so fast that questions are not answered. The practice creates an education plan for the eligible clinician and also identifies and addresses environmental issues that lead the eligible clinician to feel pressure to rush through patient visits.
• Available surveys: https://www.rand.org/health-care/surveys_tools/psq.html.

Participation in a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), that promotes patient engagement, including:

• Use of processes and tools that engage patients for adherence to treatment plans;
• Implementation of patient self-action plans;
• Implementation of shared clinical decision making capabilities; or
• Use of QCDR patient experience data to inform and advance improvements in beneficiary engagement.

Increase patient engagement though use of qualified clinical data registry (QCDR)’s tools for promoting positive patient behavior such as consistent exercise.

Evidence of participation in a QCDR that promotes patient engagement tools (e.g., patient portal, secure email, and online mobile scheduling). Include at least one of the following elements:

1) QCDR Feedback Reports – Copies of feedback reports provided by the QCDR detailing activities promoting the use of patient engagement tools (e.g., implementation of patient self-action plans, shared clinical decision-making) as part of efforts to improve processes of care; OR
2) QCDR patient experience reports – Copies of QCDR patient experience data reports used to inform and advance improvements in beneficiary engagement.

Patient engagement tools may include, but are not limited to telemedicine/virtual visits, patient portals, patient outreach, remote patient monitoring, and patient education.

Please Note:
Patient experience data provided by QCDRs capture performance measurement and submission of measure results to help eligible clinicians identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes and the healthcare delivery system.

Participation in a QCDR, that promotes collaborative learning network opportunities that are interactive.

Increase involvement of interactive collaborative learning networks with support of qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) promotion and feedback reports.

Evidence of participation in a QCDR that promotes interactive collaborative learning network opportunities. Include both of the following elements:

1) QCDR participation – Documentation of participation in QCDR (e.g., QCDR agreement documentation); AND
2) Collaborative learning network opportunities – Documentation that interactive collaborative learning network opportunities are promoted through the QCDR (e.g., regular feedback reports provided by the QCDR that promote interactive collaborative learning networks).

If you currently work with a QCDR, that QCDR will have relevant information for use of this activity.

Use evidence-based decision aids to support shared decision-making.

Increase use of evidence-based decision aids to encourage shared decision-making with beneficiaries.

Documented use of evidence-based decision aids to support shared decision-making, a collaborative process aimed at improving beneficiary-clinician communication and informed consent in healthcare. Include the following element:

1) Use of decision-aids – Documentation (e.g., checklist, algorithms, tools, screenshots) showing the use of evidence-based decision aids (e.g., https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/AZlist.html and https://shareddecisions.mayoclinic.org/decision-aid-information/decision...) to support shared decision-making with beneficiary.

Regularly assess the patient experience of care through surveys, advisory councils and/or other mechanisms.

Gather feedback from specific populations that have higher risks due to social or health risk factors, thus creating the opportunity to make improvements addressing their unique needs.

Evidence of regular assessments of patient care experience from clinician-identified higher-risk populations. Higher-risk populations should be defined by the eligible clinician based on their patient populations and may, for example, include elderly patients, patients who live alone or speak English with difficulty, or have diabetes or recently had a stroke. Include the following element:

1) Patient experience of care data collection – Documentation (e.g., survey results, advisory council notes and/or other methods) showing regular assessments of patient experience of care for a clinician-defined higher-risk population. Surveys should be administered independently to the extent possible.

• Tools and advisory councils: https://www.ahrq.gov/topics/patient-and-family-engagement.html
• Patient experience surveys: https://www.ahrq.gov/cahps/surveys-guidance/index.html

Engage patients and families to guide improvement in the system of care by leveraging digital tools for ongoing guidance and assessments outside the encounter, including the collection and use of patient data for return-to-work and patient quality of life improvement. Platforms and devices that collect patient-generated health data (PGHD) must do so with an active feedback loop, either providing PGHD in real or near-real time to the care team, or generating clinically endorsed real or near-real time automated feedback to the patient, including patient reported outcomes (PROs). Examples include patient engagement and outcomes tracking platforms, cellular or web-enabled bi-directional systems, and other devices that transmit clinically valid objective and subjective data back to care teams. Because many consumer-grade devices capture PGHD (for example, wellness devices), platforms or devices eligible for this improvement activity must be, at a minimum, endorsed and offered clinically by care teams to patients to automatically send ongoing guidance (one way). Platforms and devices that additionally collect PGHD must do so with an active feedback loop, either providing PGHD in real or near-real time to the care team, or generating clinically endorsed real or near-real time automated feedback to the patient (e.g. automated patient-facing instructions based on glucometer readings). Therefore, unlike passive platforms or devices that may collect but do not transmit PGHD in real or near-real time to clinical care teams, active devices and platforms can inform the patient or the clinical care team in a timely manner of important parameters regarding a patient’s status, adherence, comprehension, and indicators of clinical concern.

Use active devices and platforms to allow the patient and the clinical care team to share information on a patient's status, adherence, comprehension, and indicators of clinical concern in a timely manner.

Evidence of engagement with patients and families by using digital tools for ongoing guidance and assessments outside the encounter. Include both of the following elements:

1) Use of digital tool or platform – Documentation of the practice’s adoption of an endorsed clinical tool or platform for digital collection and use of patient data that can create an active feedback loop between patient and clinical care team (e.g., license for tool/platform); AND
2) Collection of patient-generated health data (PGHD) and participation in active feedback loop with patients – Documentation of PGHD submission in real-or near-real-time to the care team, or reports generating clinically endorsed real-or near-real-time automated feedback to the patient, including patient reported outcomes (PROs); may be used for patients and families who need additional support because of disability or plans to improve their quality of life or return to work.

Engage patients, family, and caregivers in developing a plan of care and prioritizing their goals for action, documented in the electronic health record (EHR) technology.

Increase engagement with patients, family, and caregivers and ensure care provided aligns with their priorities and needs.

Evidence of inclusion of patients, family, and caregivers in developing plan of care with prioritization of goals for action, as documented in the electronic health record (EHR). The eligible clinician will identify the patient population that will participate in this activity. Include the following element:

1) Patient, family, and caregiver involvement – Report or screenshot from the EHR showing the plan of care and prioritized goals for action with notes from engagement of patients and/or their families and caregivers. May use another electronic platform to systematically capture patient preferences/value through a validated patient experience measure instrument.

An eligible oncologist chooses to implement a plan for all cancer patients with a likely lifespan of less than 3 years. The practice facilitates completion of the Qual-E validated Quality of Life instrument and incorporates results into treatment plan when possible and incorporates families and caregivers into the decision-making discussion when appropriate. This helps facilitate planning for aggressiveness of treatment, end-of-life planning (Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, advance directives, etc.), and family/caregiver congruence.

Incorporate evidence-based techniques to promote self-management into usual care, using techniques such as goal setting with structured follow-up, Teach Back, action planning or motivational interviewing.

Improve patient self-management through eligible clinician and care team promotion of self-management care techniques.

Documented use of evidence-based techniques to promote self-management into usual care. Include the following element:

1) Self-management care techniques used – Documented use of evidence-based techniques to promote self-management into usual care (e.g., eligible clinicians' completed office visit checklist, electronic health record report of completed checklist, copies of goal-setting tools or techniques, motivational interviewing script/questions, action planning tool with patient feedback).

• https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/tools/self-mgmt/self.html

Use tools to assist patients in assessing their need for support for self-management (e.g., the Patient Activation Measure or How’s My Health).

Make tools supporting self-management available to patients, thus contributing to improved patient engagement, adherence to treatment, and health outcomes.

Documented use of tools to assist patient self-management support assessment. Include both of the following elements:

1) Evidence of tools used – Documentation in medical record or electronic health record (EHR) showing use of tools designed to assist patients in assessing their need for support for self-management. Tools may include but are not limited to Patient Activation Measures, which assess an individual's knowledge, skill, and confidence for managing one's health and healthcare, and How's Your Health, which helps patients create an action plan; AND
2) Results of assessment and care plan – Documentation in medical record or EHR showing results of patient's self-management support assessment and care plan for addressing support needs.

Provide peer-led support for self-management.

Create the opportunity for patients to participate in patient-led support groups on self-management, thus contributing to improved patient engagement, adherence to treatment, and health outcomes.

Documented use of peer-led self-management. Include the following element:

1) Provision of peer-led self-management – Evidence of referral to or provision of peer-led self-management program offered to all patients with a similar condition. Documentation in medical record or elsewhere using standardized methods. Peer-led self-management requires peer groups that include beneficiaries with the same condition or disease.

Use group visits for common chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes).

Give patients with common chronic conditions opportunities to learn about self-management topics and discuss shared concerns while improving efficiency in the delivery of quality care.

Documented use of group visits for chronic conditions. Could be supported by claims. Include the following element:

1) Provision of group visit(s) – Medical claims or referrals showing group visit and chronic condition codes in conjunction with care provided.

https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/shared-medical-appointments.html

Provide condition-specific chronic disease self-management support programs or coaching or link patients to those programs in the community.

Make tools and community resources supporting self-management available to patients, contributing to improved patient engagement, adherence to treatment, and health outcomes.

Documented use of condition-specific chronic disease self-management programs or coaching or link to community programs. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Chronic disease self-management support program – Documentation from medical record or electronic health record (EHR) showing condition-specific chronic disease self-management support program or coaching; OR
2) Community chronic disease self-management support program – Documentation of referral/link of patients to condition-specific chronic disease self-management support programs in the community.

• https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/interventions/programs/cdsmp.htm
• https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/marketing-support/1-2-3-approach/docs/pdf/...

Provide self-management materials at an appropriate literacy level and in an appropriate language.

Ensure all patients can learn from the educational materials on self-management provided, and that some populations are not systematically excluded from learning opportunities.

Evidence that self-management materials appropriate for literacy level and/or language preference are provided to patients. Include both of the following elements:

1) Patient literacy and language capture – Documentation of patient literacy level and/or language preference captured in the medical record (e.g., medical record, screenshot, electronic health record [EHR] report); AND
2) Provision of appropriate self-management materials – Documented provision in EHR or medical record of self-management materials (e.g., pamphlet, discharge summary, or other materials that include self-management information). Materials must be provided in a format appropriate for the patient's literacy and/or language preference.

• A primary care practice identifies cultural and educational variability, and associated variability in health literacy, in its patient population. To meet the needs of their patient population and this activity, the eligible practice clinicians reviewed all self-management materials used by the practice and made changes anywhere necessary that ensured all were written at the 6th-grade level or lower and were available in all languages needed for the patient population. Materials provided to the patient were referenced specifically in the EHR.
• https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0801/p463.html

Implementation of workflow changes that engage patients prior to the visit, such as a pre-visit development of a shared visit agenda with the patient, or targeted pre-visit laboratory testing that will be resulted and available to the MIPS eligible clinician to review and discuss during the patient’s appointment.

Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of visit time with patients, and promote patient engagement and satisfaction with care.

Evidence that a pre-visit agenda was shared and/or developed with patients prior to visit. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Pre-visit communication with patient – Documentation of communication with patient (letter, email, discussion, portal screenshot, etc.) that shows a pre-visit agenda was shared with and/or developed with the patient; OR
2) Patient engagement workflow – Documentation of the practice's patient engagement workflow clearly showing pre-visit agenda sharing process (e.g., staff responsible, timing, method of sharing); OR
3) Co-creation of visit agenda – Documented strategies to engage patients and their family members to co-create a visit agenda (e.g., workflow diagram, policy or process document).

Provide coaching between visits with follow-up on care plan and goals.

Provide additional direct support to patients in achieving their goals, thus improving patient satisfaction, adherence to plans, and health outcomes.

Documented use of coaching provided between visits with follow-up on care plan and goals, for a population of the eligible clinician’s choosing (e.g., patients with a specific condition). Include the population identified for this activity and at least one of the following elements:

1) Use of coaching codes – Medical claims with codes for coaching provided between visits; OR
2) Coaching plan and goals – Copy of documentation provided to patients (e.g., letter, email, portal screenshot) that includes coaching on care plan and goals; OR
3) Coaching tools used – Examples of coaching tools used by staff (e.g., coaching scripts, tools, materials).

Clinician coaching https://clinicalhealthcoach.com/coaching-conversation-example/

In order to receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must attest that their practice provides financial counseling to patients or their caregiver about costs of care and an exploration of different payment options. The MIPS eligible clinician may accomplish this by working with other members of their practice (for example, financial counselor or patient navigator) as part of a team-based care approach in which members of the patient care team collaborate to support patient- centered goals. For example, a financial counselor could provide patients with resources with further information or support options, or facilitate a conversation with a patient or caregiver that could address concerns. This activity may occur during diagnosis stage, before treatment, during treatment, and/or during survivorship planning, as appropriate.

Help patients navigate the stress and risks associated with paying for healthcare, and, when relevant, help them explore alternative options that address their holistic needs.

Demonstration that the practice provides patients with estimates of the costs of the types of healthcare services it will furnish in advance (for services that can be scheduled in advance) and financial counseling to patients or their caregivers about payment options. Financial counseling may occur during diagnosis stage, before treatment, during treatment, and/or during survivorship planning, as appropriate. Include both of the following elements:

1) Estimated cost of care provided – Documentation that an estimate of the cost to the patient of the types of healthcare services to be furnished by the eligible clinician(s) was provided to patient in advance (for services that can be scheduled in advance); AND
2) Financial counseling provided – Documentation of financial counseling provided to patients and/or their caregivers about costs of care with evidence that different payment options were provided.

To receive credit for this improvement activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must attest that their practice provides counseling to patients and/or their caregivers about the costs of drugs and the patients’ out-of-pocket costs for the drugs. If appropriate, the clinician must also explore with their patients the availability of alternative drugs and patients’ eligibility for patient assistance programs that provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. One source of information for pricing of pharmaceuticals could be a real-time benefit tool (RTBT), which provides to the prescriber, real-time patient-specific formulary and benefit information for drugs, including cost-sharing for a beneficiary. (CMS finalized in the Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out of Pocket Expenses final rule (84 FR 23832, 23883) that beginning January 1, 2021 Medicare Part D plans will be required to implement one or more RTBT(s).)

Help patients navigate the stress and risks associated with paying for healthcare—with particular attention to out-of-pocket costs on medication; when relevant, help them explore alternative options that address their holistic needs.

Documented provision of counseling to patients and/or their caregivers regarding the cost of drugs and patients’ out-of-pocket expenses for their prescribed medications. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Counseling on drug costs provided – Documentation could include an electronic health record (EHR) note that the eligible clinician provided counseling to patients and/or caregivers about the costs of drugs including the patient’s out-of-pocket costs for the drugs; OR
2) Use of Real-Time Benefit Tool (RTBT) – Evidence of RTBT* used in practice (e.g., workflow diagram, screenshot of tool) to provide real-time patient-specific formulary and benefit information for drugs including cost-sharing for a beneficiary; OR
3) Discussion of alternative drugs and assistance programs – Documentation (e.g., EHR or medical record note) of discussion/counseling with patients when applicable about the availability of alternative drugs and the patients’ eligibility for patient assistance programs that provide free medications for patients who are unable to afford to buy their medicine. For this activity, patient assistance programs pertain to patients who require assistance to purchase necessary medications, e.g., www.rxassist.org/providers.

Real-time benefit tool (RTBT) www.covermymeds.com/main/insights/rtbc-scorecard/

Participation in an AHRQ-listed patient safety organization.

Adopt and implement Patient Safety Organization (PSO) methodologies through data collection, analysis, reporting, and education to promote the quantifiable reduction of avoidable medical errors and deficiencies identified in the quality of care provided.

Evidence of participation in an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-listed PSO. Include the following element:

1) Confirmation of participation – Documentation from an AHRQ-listed PSO confirming the eligible clinician or group's participation with the PSO (e.g., welcome email or other communication).

PSOs listed by AHRQ are located at http://www.pso.ahrq.gov/listed, and information regarding how to choose a PSO can be found at https://pso.ahrq.gov/work-with/choose.

In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must participate in Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV requires clinicians to perform monthly activities across practice to regularly assess performance by reviewing outcomes addressing identified areas for improvement and evaluating the results. 

Some examples of activities that can be completed to receive MOC Part IV credit are: the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Program, National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Clinical Quality Coach, Quality Practice Initiative Certification Program, American Board of Medical Specialties Practice Performance Improvement Module or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Simulation Education Network, for improving professional practice including participation in a local, regional or national outcomes registry or quality assessment program; specialty- specific activities including Safety Certification in Outpatient Practice Excellence (SCOPE); American Psychiatric Association (APA) Performance in Practice modules.

Maintain certifications with a Maintenance of Certification (MOC)-approved specialty board to increase/update knowledge and apply it to practice and safety improvements.

Evidence of participation in MOC Part IV. Include the following element:

1) Confirmation of participation – Documentation of participation in MOC Part IV.

Review appropriate information within the appropriate board certifying entity as it relates to MOC IV.

For MIPS eligible clinicians not participating in Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV, new engagement for MOC Part IV, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Training/Forum Event; National Academy of Medicine, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Team STEPPS®, or the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Performance in Practice Modules.

Obtain a Maintenance of Certification (MOC)-approved specialty board certification or other similar program to increase/update knowledge and apply it to practice and safety improvements.

Evidence of participation in Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Training/Forum Event: National Academy of Medicine, AHRQ Team STEPPS®, or other similar activity. Include the following element:

1) Certificate of participation – Certificate or letter of participation from an IHI Training/Forum Event: National Academy of Medicine, AHRQ Team STEPPS®, or the American Board of Family Medicine Performance in Practice Modules, or other similar activity, for eligible clinicians or groups not participating in MOC Part IV.

Administration of the AHRQ Survey of Patient Safety Culture and submission of data to the comparative database (refer to AHRQ Survey of Patient Safety Culture website http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patientsafetycu...). Note: This activity may be selected once every 4 years, to avoid duplicative information given that some of the modules may change on a year by year basis but over 4 years there would be a reasonable expectation for the set of modules to have undergone substantive change, for the improvement activities performance category score.

Create the opportunity to i) Raise staff awareness about patient safety; ii) Elucidate and assess the current status of patient safety culture; iii) Identify strengths and areas for patient safety culture improvement; iv) Evaluate trends in patient safety culture change over time; and v) Evaluate the cultural impact of patient safety initiatives and interventions (from https://www.ahrq.gov/sops/about/faq.html#Q1).

Evidence of administration of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) survey of Patient Safety Culture and submission of data to the comparative database. Include the following element:

1) Survey results data submission – Survey results from the AHRQ Survey of Patient Safety Culture, including proof of administration and submission.

https://www.ahrq.gov/sops/index.html

Please note:
This activity may be selected once every 4 years to avoid duplicative information, given that some of the modules may change on a yearly basis but over 4 years there would be reasonable expectation for the set of modules to have undergone substantive change, for the improvement activities performance score.

Clinicians would attest to reviewing the patients’ history of controlled substance prescription using state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data prior to the issuance of a Controlled Substance Schedule II (CSII) opioid prescription lasting longer than 3 days. For the transition year, clinicians would attest to 60 percent review of applicable patient’s history. For the Quality Payment Program Year 2 and future years, clinicians would attest to 75 percent review of applicable patient’s history performance.

Use patients' past prescription history to inform decisions about issuing new controlled substance schedule II opioid prescriptions, thus identifying and protecting patients who are at risk of opioid addition and/or overdose.

Evidence of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) consultation before issuance of a controlled substance schedule II (CSII) opioid prescription that lasts longer than 3 days. Include both of the following elements, for the same time period:

1) Number of issuances of CSII Prescription – Total number of issuances of a CSII prescription that lasts longer than 3 days (e.g., screenshot or report from PDMP web portal displaying data); AND
2) Documentation of consulting the PDMP – Total number of patients for which there is evidence of consulting the PDMP prior to issuing an CSII prescription (e.g., copies of patient reports created with the Protected Health Information masked, PDMP website screenshot).

Participation in a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) and use of QCDR data for ongoing practice assessment and improvements in patient safety, including:

• Performance of activities that promote use of standard practices, tools and processes for quality improvement (for example, documented preventative screening and vaccinations that can be shared across MIPS eligible clinician or groups);
• Use of standard questionnaires for assessing improvements in health disparities related to functional health status (for example, use of Seattle Angina Questionnaire, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, and/or SF-12/VR-12 functional health status assessment);
• Use of standardized processes for screening for social determinants of health such as food security, employment, and housing;
• Use of supporting QCDR modules that can be incorporated into the certified EHR technology; or
• Use of QCDR data for quality improvement such as comparative analysis across specific patient populations for adverse outcomes after an outpatient surgical procedure and corrective steps to address adverse outcomes.

Use qualified clinical data registry (QCDR) data for practice assessment and improvement with primary goal of addressing patient safety for targeted populations.

Documented use of QCDR data for ongoing practice assessment and improvements in patient safety. Include both of the following elements:

1) Use of QCDR for assessment – Feedback reports provided by the QCDR that demonstrate ongoing practice assessments in patient safety; AND
2) Use of QCDR for improvement – Documentation of how the practice is using QCDR data and documentation of intended improvements in patient safety for the specific populations targeted (e.g., documentation of standard tools, processes for screening, use of standard questionnaires, or use of QCDR data that are used for quality improvement, such as population-level analysis to assess for adverse outcomes).

An anesthesia group is supported by a QCDR for quality improvement and MIPS reporting. The QCDR provides routine data feedback reports to the eligible clinicians as part of the engagement. In one of the areas of review, the anesthesiologists realize, through the provided data, that they are inconsistently providing appropriately timed dosing of neuromuscular blocker recovery medication. This creates significant potential for complications at the time of extubation following the procedure. As a result, the anesthesiology group develops a plan that includes checklists to prevent this problem moving forward and they successfully eliminate the safety risk.

In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must use tools that assist specialty practices in tracking specific measures that are meaningful to their practice.

Some examples of tools that could satisfy this activity are: a surgical risk calculator; evidence based protocols, such as Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols; the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guide for Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings predictive algorithms; and the opiate risk tool (ORT) or similar tool.

Improve the number of patients tracked and the precision of measurement for patient safety measures, thus allowing specialists to make evidence-based decisions about improving safety for their patients.

Documented use of patient safety tools implemented for tracking specific patient safety and practice assessment measures that are meaningful to the eligible clinician or group (e.g., tracking HbA1c would be meaningful to an endocrinologist whereas tracking intraocular pressure would be more meaningful to an ophthalmologist). Include both of the following elements:

1) Evidence of safety tools used – Documentation of the use of patient safety tools that assist in tracking patient safety measures (e.g., practice policy or protocol, workflow diagram, screenshot); AND
2) Evidence of measures tracked – Documentation of specific patient safety measures tracked via use of tool (e.g., quality measure report, dashboard, screenshot).

• Surgical risk calculator
• Opiate risk tool
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guide for Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings predictive algorithms.
• Use of clinical assessment modalities and diagnostic screening tools in specialty medicine (e.g., World Health Organization’s Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) Tool);
• Use American College of Cardiology Surviving myocardial infarction (MI)
• Use American College of Physicians (ACP) Practice Advisor; ACP Quality Connect;
• Conduct Disease Activity Measurement to Optimize Treating to Target;
• Improve Informed Consent and Shared Decision-Making with Evidence-Based Risk Stratification Strategies;
• Implement American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Guidelines Mobile App;
• Participate in public health emergency disease outbreak control efforts;
• Participate in voluntary surveillance activity;
• Conduct population management strategies within a Perioperative Surgical Home;
• Use of American Urological Association Symptom Index to increase patient engagement;
• Provide leadership of Infection Prevention and Control Program;
• Conduct therapeutic drug monitoring for inflammatory bowel disease patients that are on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies;
• Deploy predictive analytical models to manage chronic disease in patients;
• Perform review of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery protocol and implement improvement plan.

Completion of the American Medical Association’s STEPS Forward program.

Gain the knowledge to "improve practice efficiency and ultimately enhance patient care, physician satisfaction and practice sustainability" (from https://edhub.ama-assn.org/stepsforward/pages/About).

Evidence of completion of American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) STEPS Forward program. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Certificate of completion – Certificate of completion from at least one AMA’s STEPS Forward program module; OR
2) Evidence of implementation – Documentation of newly implemented care processes based on completion of AMA’s STEPS Forward module.

Completion of training and obtaining an approved waiver for provision of medication -assisted treatment of opioid use disorders using buprenorphine.

Become better equipped to help patients overcome their opioid use disorders and, with certification, become a trusted source of care for patients with opioid disorders.

Evidence of obtaining the approved waiver for provision of medication assisted treatment of opioid use disorders using buprenorphine. Include the following element:

1) Waiver – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) letter confirming presence of waiver and eligible clinician prescribing ID number. Obtaining a waiver requires mandatory training.

https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/become-buprenorphin...

Participation in the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey or other supplemental questionnaire items (e.g., Cultural Competence or Health Information Technology supplemental item sets).

Gather standard, objective data on patient experience and satisfaction, ultimately using them to make care more patient-centered.

Evidence of participation in the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) or other supplemental questionnaire. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) CAHPS – CAHPS participation report; OR
2) Other patient supplemental questionnaire items – Other supplemental patient experience questionnaire items (must be administered by a third-party administrator/vendor).

Participation in designated private payer clinical practice improvement activities.

Improve the quality of care provided, and health outcomes for patients, by participating in improvement activities designated by private payers.

Evidence of participation in private payer clinical practice improvement activities. Include the following element:

1) Confirmation of participation – Documents showing participation in private payer clinical practice improvement activities (e.g., quality measure documentation or feedback reports, practice workflow redesign tools developed for or with the payer as part of practice improvement).

Participation in Joint Commission Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation initiative.

Implement the Joint Commission’s Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation with goal of identifying negative practice trends earlier.

Evidence of participation in the Joint Commission’s Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) initiative. Include the following element:

1) Confirmation of participation – Documentation from Joint Commission's OPPE initiative confirming participation in its improvement program(s) (e.g., email or other communication).

Leadership of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) that includes implementation of an ASP that measures the appropriate use of antibiotics for several different conditions (such as but not limited to upper respiratory infection treatment in children, diagnosis of pharyngitis, bronchitis treatment in adults) according to clinical guidelines for diagnostics and therapeutics. Specific activities may include: 

• Develop facility-specific antibiogram and prepare report of findings with specific action plan that aligns with overall facility or practice strategic plan.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of patient care and patient safety protocols for the delivery of ASP including protocols pertaining to the most appropriate setting for such services (i.e., outpatient or inpatient). 
• Assist in improving ASP service line efficiency and effectiveness by evaluating and recommending improvements in the management structure and workflow of ASP processes.
• Manage compliance of the ASP policies and assist with implementation of corrective actions in accordance with facility or clinic compliance policies and hospital medical staff by-laws. 
• Lead the education and training of professional support staff for the purpose of maintaining an efficient and effective ASP.
• Coordinate communications between ASP management and facility or practice personnel regarding activities, services, and operational/clinical protocols to achieve overall compliance and understanding of the ASP.
• Assist, at the request of the facility or practice, in preparing for and responding to third-party requests, including but not limited to payer audits, governmental inquiries, and professional inquiries that pertain to the ASP service line. 
• Implementing and tracking an evidence-based policy or practice aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing practices for high-priority conditions.  
• Developing and implementing evidence-based protocols and decision-support for diagnosis and treatment of common infections.
• Implementing evidence-based protocols that align with recommendations in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship guidance.

Reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials, thus playing a critical role in reducing microbial resistance and the incidence of antimicrobial-caused adverse drug reactions, all of which will help improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of spending.

Evidence of leadership of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) that measures the appropriate use of antibiotics for several different conditions according to clinical guidelines for diagnostics and therapeutics. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Antibiogram and report – Documented facility-specific antibiogram and report of findings and specific action plan aligned with overall facility or practice strategic plan; OR
2) ASP patient care and safety protocols – Documentation of the development, implementation, and monitoring of patient care and safety protocols as a result of the process of operating the ASP (e.g., email communication, meeting agendas with eligible clinician’s name, staff confirmation); OR
3) ASP evaluation – Documentation of the on-going evaluation and monitoring of the management structure and workflow of ASP processes and involvement therein (e.g., email communication, meeting agendas with eligible clinician’s name, reports, staff confirmation); OR
4) ASP education and training – Records of presentation of ASP education and training including curriculum and presentation dates with eligible clinician named as one of the facilitators or presenters; OR
5) ASP policies or practices for high-priority conditions – Documentation of involvement in selecting and implementing evidence-based policy or practice aimed at improving antibiotic prescribing practices for high-priority conditions; OR
6) ASP protocols and decision supports – Documentation of developing and implementing evidence-based protocols and decision-support for diagnosis and treatment of common infections; OR
7) Alignment with CDC Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship guidance – Documentation of involvement in the alignment of evidence-based protocols with recommendations in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship guidance.

Extensive information on antimicrobial stewardship can be found at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/index.html. Also, the CDC includes information on ASPs for different practice settings (hospital, outpatient, nursing home, etc.).

Use decision support and standardized treatment protocols to manage workflow in the team to meet patient needs.

Help eligible clinicians align diagnoses and treatment plans with up-to-date, evidence-based standards and guidelines as part of routine care, thus improving the appropriateness of the care they provide and the health outcomes of their patients.

Documented use of decision support and standardized treatment protocols to manage team workflows to meet patient needs. Include the following element:

1) Use of decision support and standardized treatment protocols – Documentation (e.g., checklist, order set, algorithm, screenshot) demonstrating use of decision support and standardized treatment protocols to manage team workflows to meet patient needs. May include use of artificial intelligence/machine learning.

An eligible clinician group, through peer review, determines that there is significant variability in clinical decision-making for a specific condition. They all agree that standardization of practice is best for patient outcomes. Examples of scenarios:

• Emergency Department (ED) treatment of ST elevation Myocardial Infarction (MI): ED staff develop MI standardized orders (order-set) built into the electronic health record (EHR) workflow. The order-set drives specific evaluation and treatment decisions and automatically pages the cardiac catheterization lab and the on-call cardiologist.
• Pediatrics primary care office treatment of subcutaneous/skin abscess: Through discussion among peers in a small pediatrics office, the eligible clinicians determine that there is variability in the decision to implement an abscess incision and drainage versus only using antibiotics and there is also variability in the antibiotic used. As a result, they created internal guidelines on how to approach skin infections and antibiotic treatment and, in particular, addressing methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
• Opiate prescribing: An eligible general surgeon group completed an internal review of opiate prescribing and learned that there was opportunity to reduce the use of opiates significantly. As a result, they created an order-set within their EHR. The use of the order-set was mandatory for all opiate prescribing and created limits for quantity based on condition. The prescribing surgeon could always make an independent treatment decision as needed.

In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must conduct or build the capacity to conduct analytic activities to manage total cost of care for the practice population. Examples of these activities could include:

1. Train appropriate staff on interpretation of cost and utilization information;
2. Use available data regularly to analyze opportunities to reduce cost through improved care. An example of a platform with the necessary analytic capability to do this is the American Society for Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy’s GI Operations Benchmarking Platform.

Create opportunities to assess total cost of care and identify ways to reduce unnecessary costs.

Evidence of use or building of analytic capabilities to manage the total cost of care for the practice population. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Staff training – Documentation of staff training on interpretation of cost and utilization information (e.g., training documentation); OR
2) Cost/resource use data – Availability of cost/resource use data for the practice population that the practice uses regularly to analyze opportunities to reduce cost; OR
3) Participation in regional Total Cost of Care efforts – Engage with local Regional Health Improvement Collaborative (RHIC) to measure and utilize Total Cost of Care (TCoC) to identify opportunities for practice improvement, create a practice improvement plan(s), and execute on the plan(s). Documentation may include communication with RHIC (e.g., email) or a copy of TCoC report(s).

• The American Society for Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy’s GI Operations Benchmarking Platform is an example of a tool used for identifying opportunities to reduce cost: https://www.asge.org/home/practice-support/gi-operations-benchmarking
• The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement representing regional healthcare collaboratives has information about RCoC: https://www.nrhi.org/

Measure and improve quality at the practice and panel level, such as the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Physician Scorecards, that could include one or more of the following:

• Regularly review measures of quality, utilization, patient satisfaction and other measures that may be useful at the practice level and at the level of the care team or MIPS eligible clinician or group (panel); and/or 
• Use relevant data sources to create benchmarks and goals for performance at the practice level and panel level.

Enhance the measurement of the quality of care, making quality data relevant at practice and panel levels, and use those data to implement effective quality improvement activities.

Evidence of quality measurement and improvement at the practice and panel level. Include one or more of the following elements:

1) Performance benchmarks and goals – Performance benchmarks and goals for populations at practice and panel levels, or for specific populations (e.g., racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, individuals with certain chronic conditions/risk factors, or individuals in rural areas) to drive overall improvements; OR
2) Quality improvement program/plan at practice and panel level – Copy of a quality improvement program/plan or review of quality, utilization, patient satisfaction (surveys should be administered by a third-party survey administrator/vendor), and other measures to improve one or more elements of this activity; OR
3) Review of and progress on measures – Report showing progress on selected measures, including benchmarks and goals for performance using relevant data sources at the practice and panel level.

• Obtain diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) designation.
• Participate in Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program (EURP).
• Participate in Simulation Education Courses approved by the American Society of Anesthesiologist's Simulation Education Network.

Adopt a formal model for quality improvement and create a culture in which all staff actively participates in improvement activities that could include one or more of the following, such as:

• Participation in multisource feedback; 
• Train all staff in quality improvement methods;
• Integrate practice change/quality improvement into staff duties;
• Engage all staff in identifying and testing practices changes;
• Designate regular team meetings to review data and plan improvement cycles;
• Promote transparency and accelerate improvement by sharing practice level and panel level quality of care, patient experience and utilization data with staff;
• Promote transparency and engage patients and families by sharing practice level quality of care, patient experience and utilization data with patients and families, including activities in which clinicians act upon patient experience data;
• Participation in Bridges to Excellence;
• Participation in American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program.

Expand and formalize quality improvement (QI) activities across the practice, ultimately leading to improvements in the quality of care and fostering a culture of participation among staff.

Evidence of the implementation of a formal plan for QI and creation of a culture in which staff actively participates in one or more applicable QI activities. Include both of the following elements:

1) Adopt formal quality improvement plan and create culture of improvement – Documentation of adoption of a formal model for QI and creation of a culture in which staff actively participate in QI activities. Formal QI models are used by eligible clinicians to develop systems, tools, and interventional strategies to improve processes of care for their patient population; AND
2) Staff participation – Documentation of staff participation in one or more of the 6 key areas for improvement*: a) training; b) integration into staff duties; c) identifying and testing practice changes; d) regular team meetings to review data and plan improvement cycles; e) share practice and panel level quality of care; f) patient experience and utilization data with staff; or g) share practice level quality of care, patient experience and utilization data with patients and families.

• *Report from the Institute of Medicine identifies 6 key areas for focus in healthcare quality improvement: http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Publications/CrossingtheQualityChasmA...
• The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) "Model for Improvement" supports creation of a plan for improvement that is focused on the needs of the eligible clinician or practice and their population of patients: http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/HowtoImprove/default.aspx
• The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Quality Innovation Center Collaborative.

Ensure full engagement of clinical and administrative leadership in practice improvement that could include one or more of the following:   

• Make responsibility for guidance of practice change a component of clinical and administrative leadership roles; 
• Allocate time for clinical and administrative leadership for practice improvement efforts, including participation in regular team meetings; and/or
• Incorporate population health, quality and patient experience metrics in regular reviews of practice performance.

Institutionalize quality improvement within the practice by making it an explicit component of leadership’s roles and responsibilities, thus strengthening the commitment to care quality across the practice.

Evidence of clinical and administrative leadership engagement in regular guidance and demonstrated commitment for implementing improvements. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Clinical and administrative leadership role descriptions – Documentation of clinical and administrative leadership role descriptions that include responsibility for practice improvement change (e.g., position description); OR
2) Time for leadership in improvement efforts – Documentation of allocated time for clinical and administrative leadership participating in improvement efforts (e.g., regular team meeting agendas and post meeting summaries); OR
3) Population health, quality, and health experience incorporated into performance reviews – Documentation of population health, quality, and health experience metrics incorporated into regular practice performance reviews (e.g., reports, agendas, analytics, meeting notes).

• A large group of eligible emergency clinicians determines that a more structured approach to quality improvement is needed. They appoint the medical director of the group and another eligible clinician to administer the program, and they ensure both have time allocated and are compensated for this work. The program has two components: 1) Traditional Peer Review with a formal process for identifying cases. A group of eligible clinicians is identified who commit to meeting on a regularly scheduled basis reviewing all peer review cases. Further, specified team members follow-up with group and individual eligible clinicians for cases that are educational; and 2) Data Review component that allows the Medical Director and the Quality Administrative clinician to identify an area of practice for review. For example, a decision is made to collect data on all intubations for the subsequent 4 months to identify variability in approach. The data could be used as part of education that will roll out in support of standardizing intubation processes within the emergency department.
• Institute of Healthcare Improvement’s “Model for Improvement”: http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/HowtoImprove/default.aspx.

Implementation of fall screening and assessment programs to identify patients at risk for falls and address modifiable risk factors (e.g., Clinical decision support/prompts in the electronic health record that help manage the use of medications, such as benzodiazepines, that increase fall risk).

Improve identification of patients who are at risk of falling; then reduce their risk and improve their health outcome, independence, and satisfaction with care.

Documented implementation of fall screening and assessment programs. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Implementation of a falls screening and assessment program – Documentation of newly implemented falls screening and assessment program that uses valid and reliable tools to identify patients at risk for falls and address modifiable risk factors (e.g., clinical decision support (CDS)/prompts in the electronic health record (EHR) that help manage the use of medications, such as benzodiazepines, that increase fall risk). The program population should be defined by the eligible clinicians (e.g., all patients over a certain age); OR
2) Implementation progress – Documentation of follow-up after falls screening and assessment with focus on improvement in risk factors. Documentation of follow-up may include: follow-up screening, notes or medication list demonstrating mitigation of the risk or other health record data demonstrating follow-up, etc.

Implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (CDC STEADI) program for identification of falls risk and actions to take to mitigate falls. https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/about.html

Completion of all the modules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) course “Applying CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids” that reviews the 2016 “Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.” Note: This activity may be selected once every 4 years, to avoid duplicative information given that some of the modules may change on a year by year basis but over 4 years there would be a reasonable expectation for the set of modules to have undergone substantive change, for the improvement activities performance category score.

Become better equipped to improve prescription practices and thus help reduce patients' risks of addiction and overdose.

Documented completion with a passing score for the 12 most applicable modules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) course "Applying CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids" that reviews the 2016 "Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain." Include the following element:

1) Record of completion and passing score – Documented participation in and completion of (e.g., certificate of completion, screenshot) the CDC’s course "Applying CDC's Guideline for Prescribing Opioids" that reviews the 2016 "Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain."

The training can be found at the following link. CME can be obtained at no cost by following the instructions on the site. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/training/onlinetraining.html

Completion of all modules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention antibiotic stewardship course. Note: This activity may be selected once every 4 years, to avoid duplicative information given that some of the modules may change on a year by year basis but over 4 years there would be a reasonable expectation for the set of modules to have undergone substantive change, for the improvement activities performance category score.

Reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials to help reduce microbial resistance and the incidence of antimicrobial-caused adverse drug reactions, all of which will help improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of spending.

Documented completion with a passing score of all modules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) antibiotic stewardship course. Include the following element:

1) Record of completion and passing score – Documented participation in and completion (e.g., certificate of completion, screenshot) of all modules of the CDC antibiotic stewardship course.

https://www.train.org/cdctrain/training_plan/3697

Implementation of a cost display for laboratory and radiographic orders, such as costs that can be obtained through the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule.

Help eligible ordering clinicians easily obtain information on the cost of laboratory and radiography orders, allowing them to manage their costs strategically.

Demonstration of cost transparency by displaying costs for laboratory and radiography at the point-of-order for ordering clinicians. Include the following element:

1) Cost display for laboratory and radiographic orders – Documentation (e.g., screenshot, report from the electronic health record, written display procedure) of laboratory and radiographic costs at the point-of-order.

A MIPS eligible clinician providing unscheduled care (such as an emergency room, urgent care, or other unplanned encounter) attests that, for greater than 75 percent of case visits that result from a clinically significant adverse drug event, the MIPS eligible clinician provides information, including through the use of health IT to the patient’s primary care clinician regarding both the unscheduled visit and the nature of the adverse drug event within 48 hours. A clinically significant adverse event is defined as a medication-related harm or injury such as side-effects, supratherapeutic effects, allergic reactions, laboratory abnormalities, or medication errors requiring urgent/emergent evaluation, treatment, or hospitalization.

Allow primary care doctors to immediately tailor plans of care for patients to prevent further medication errors and achieve better outcomes in the future.

Documentation of communication regarding clinically significant adverse drug events from the eligible clinician providing unscheduled care to the primary care clinician within 48 hours. Unscheduled care includes emergency room visit, urgent care, or other unplanned encounter. A clinically significant adverse event is defined as a medication-related harm or injury such as side-effects, supra-therapeutic effects, allergic reactions, laboratory abnormalities, or medication errors requiring urgent/emergent evaluation, treatment or hospitalization. Include all of the following elements:

1) Documentation of the process for capturing adverse drug events; AND
2) Details of clinically significant adverse drug event – Documentation (e.g., medical record, chart note) of clinically significant adverse event; AND
3) Communication of event within 48 hours – Documentation of communication of the event to the patient's primary care clinician within 48 hours of the unscheduled event (e.g., Health Information Exchange, other Health Information Technology, secure email). Communication to include both details about the unscheduled event and the nature of the adverse drug event.

• A small internal medicine practice has numerous patients on warfarin. Those patients are managed by the local “Coumadin Clinic” at the hospital. Occasionally, those patients are seen in the local emergency department for bleeding, or are referred to the emergency department from the Coumadin Clinic that is testing the patients’ International Normalized Ratio (INR). The hematology group partners with the emergency department clinician group to develop a process for communicating adverse warfarin reactions. They identify all appropriate diagnosis codes that could be linked to an adverse warfarin level or reaction. They work with IT to create an automatically generated email (fax, etc.) of the clinical record, triggered by the diagnosis code, and have it sent to the primary care clinician.
• An emergency department clinician group creates an internal policy that all clinically significant adverse drug reactions are communicated with the eligible primary care clinician. As a result, they create a manual process that requires the emergency physician to contact the eligible primary care clinician and communicate the situation. The eligible clinicians create a specific field in the electronic health record for documenting the brief details of the communication.

For an anticoagulated patient undergoing a planned invasive procedure for which interruption in anticoagulation is anticipated, including patients taking vitamin K antagonists (warfarin), target specific oral anticoagulants (such as apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban), and heparins/low molecular weight heparins, documentation, including through the use of electronic tools, that the plan for anticoagulation management in the periprocedural period was discussed with the patient and with the clinician responsible for managing the patient’s anticoagulation. Elements of the plan should include the following: discontinuation, resumption, and, if applicable, bridging, laboratory monitoring, and management of concomitant antithrombotic medications (such as antiplatelets and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)). An invasive or surgical procedure is defined as a procedure in which skin or mucous membranes and connective tissue are incised, or an instrument is introduced through a natural body orifice.

Formalize and document a standardized process for management of patients on anti-coagulant medication before, during, and after invasive procedures, thus reducing risk of complications.

Create a standardized process for managing patient anti-coagulation during the peri-procedural period for planned invasive procedure for which interruption in anticoagulation is anticipated. Include all of the following elements:

1) Identification of patients needing anticoagulation management – Documentation of a process to identify patients taking anticoagulants including vitamin K antagonists (warfarin), direct oral anticoagulants (such as apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban), and heparins/low molecular weight heparins for anticoagulation medication management plan; AND
2) Documented discussion – Standardized documentation (e.g., medical record note with standardized components, pre-procedural document maintained in the medical record) of specific plan for managing patient anti-coagulation before, during, and after surgery by relevant eligible clinicians (such as primary care clinician, hospitalist, surgeon, or anesthesiologist); AND
3) Examples of anti-coagulation management plans – Examples of documented plans (e.g., medical record, electronic health record, secure email) for anticoagulation management in the periprocedural period for planned invasive procedures. The plan should include the following: discontinuation, resumption, and, if applicable, bridging medication, laboratory monitoring, and management of concomitant antithrombotic medications (such as anti-platelet and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Completion of an accredited performance improvement continuing medical education (CME) program that addresses performance or quality improvement according to the following criteria:

• The activity must address a quality or safety gap that is supported by a needs assessment or problem analysis, or must support the completion of such a needs assessment as part of the activity;
• The activity must have specific, measurable aim(s) for improvement;
• The activity must include interventions intended to result in improvement;
• The activity must include data collection and analysis of performance data to assess the impact of the interventions; and
• The accredited program must define meaningful clinician participation in their activity, describe the mechanism for identifying clinicians who meet the requirements, and provide participant completion information.

An example of an activity that could satisfy this improvement activity is completion of an accredited continuing medical education program related to opioid analgesic risk and evaluation strategy (REMS) to address pain control (that is, acute and chronic pain).

Complete an accredited performance improvement continuing medical education (CME) program, ultimately applying program content to address a specific quality or safety gap.

Documented completion of an accredited performance improvement program that includes active individual participation in the completion of a performance improvement project. Include all of the following elements:

1) Documentation/report of the performance improvement project completed – Documentation to include: a) the specific quality or safety gap and measurable improvement goal; b) the interventions used to result in improvement; and c) data with analysis demonstrating the improvement; AND
2) Confirmation of participation – Documented confirmation of participation and completion in accredited performance improvement program; AND
3) Program details – Details of accredited program must include: a) definition of meaningful eligible clinician participation in their activity; and b) description of the mechanism for identifying eligible clinicians who meet the requirements.

• Performance Improvement Module, such as Asthma IQ: Patient Management and Outcomes, Asthma IQ: Patient Assessment, PI Pro: Food Allergy, Self-Directed Practice Improvement Module https://www.aaaai.org/practice-resources/asthma-iq
• Participate in American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Skills Training Assessment Reinforcement (STAR) Certificate Program https://www.asge.org/home/education/advanced-educationtraining/star-cert...
• American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Training Program https://practice.asco.org/quality-improvement/quality-programs/quality-t...
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Making Informed Consent an Informed Choice: Training for Healthcare Professionals https://www.ahrq.gov/health-literacy/professionaltraining/informed-choic...
• American College of Physicians Advance Quality Improvement Curriculum https://www.acponline.org/practice-resources/acp-quality-improvement/acp...

Clinicians attest that they are consulting specified applicable AUC through a qualified clinical decision support mechanism for all applicable imaging services furnished in an applicable setting, paid for under an applicable payment system, and ordered on or after January 1, 2018. This activity is for clinicians that are early adopters of the Medicare AUC program (2018 performance year) and for clinicians that begin the Medicare AUC program in future years as specified in our regulation at §414.94. The AUC program is required under section 218 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. Qualified mechanisms will be able to provide a report to the ordering clinician that can be used to assess patterns of image-ordering and improve upon those patterns to ensure that patients are receiving the most appropriate imaging for their individual condition.

Consult Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) through a clinical decision support (CDS) mechanism for imaging services to reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful over-imaging.

Documented consultation of specified AUC through a qualified CDS mechanism for imaging services. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Early adopter status – Evidence of early adoption of the Medicare AUC program (2018 Performance Year); OR
2) Demonstration of standardized use of AUC in daily patient care – Provide reports, details of agreement with provider of services, detailed information about standardized process, etc.; OR
3) Image-ordering reports – Copies of reports (e.g., paper copy, screenshots) sent to the ordering clinician that can be used to assess patterns of image-ordering and improve upon those patterns to ensure that patients are receiving the most appropriate imaging for their individual condition.

• AUC Criteria program: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Inst...
• Qualified AUC mechanisms: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Inst...

Participation in the PCI Bleeding Campaign which is a national quality improvement program that provides infrastructure for a learning network and offers evidence-based resources and tools to reduce avoidable bleeding associated with patients who receive a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The program uses a patient-centered and team-based approach, leveraging evidence-based best practices to improve care for PCI patients by implementing quality improvement strategies:

• Radial-artery access,
• Bivalirudin, and
• Use of vascular closure devices.

Participate in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) Bleed Campaign to reduce avoidable bleeding associated with patients who receive a PCI.

Documented participation in the PCI Bleed Campaign quality improvement initiative. Include both of the following elements:

1) Confirmed participation – Documentation of participation in the PCI Bleed Campaign (e.g., welcome email, listed on website); AND
2) Implemented or planned adoption of strategies – Documentation of implemented or plan for implementing evidence-based strategies to improve care for PCI patients including: a) radial-artery access; b) bivalidruin; and c) use of vascular closure devices.

Information:

ACC’s Reduce the Risk: PCI Bleed Quality Campaign: https://cvquality.acc.org/initiatives/reduce-the-risk-pci-bleed

In order to receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must provide both written and verbal education regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use for patients who are prescribed both benzodiazepines and opioids. Education must be completed for at least 75% of qualifying patients and occur: (1) at the time of initial co-prescribing and again following greater than 6 months of co- prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids, or (2) at least once per MIPS performance period for patients taking concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine therapy.

Educate patients regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use, thus reducing their risk of overdose.

Evidence of both written and verbal education regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use provided to patients who are prescribed both benzodiazepines and opioids. Include both of the following elements:

1) Examples of education provided – Copies of written education (e.g., pamphlets, patient portal screenshot) and verbal education (e.g., scripts/descriptions of what must be said) provided; AND
2) Education provided to patients co-prescribed – Education must be completed for at least 75% of qualifying patients and occur a) at the time of initial co-prescribing and again following greater than 6 months of co-prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids; or b) at least once per MIPS performance period for patients taking concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine therapy.

In order to receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must utilize the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain via clinical decision support (CDS). For CDS to be most effective, it needs to be built directly into the clinician workflow and support decision making on a specific patient at the point of care. Specific examples of how the guideline could be incorporated into a CDS workflow include, but are not limited to: electronic health record (EHR)-based prescribing prompts, order sets that require review of guidelines before prescriptions can be entered, and prompts requiring review of guidelines before a subsequent action can be taken in the record.

Make Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain via clinical decision support (CDS) part of eligible clinicians' workflow, thus improving prescription practices, protecting patients at risk for addition and/or overdose, and helping to address the opioid epidemic.

Evidence of eligible clinicians utilizing the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain via CDS. Include all of the following elements:

1) CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain via CDS within eligible clinicians’ workflow – Evidence that the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain is available to eligible clinician(s) via CDS, and that the guideline is incorporated into eligible clinicians’ workflow. May include: electronic health record-based prescribing prompts, chronic pain order sets with opiate prescribing based on CDC Guidelines, or prompts requiring review of guidelines before a subsequent action can be taken in the record; AND
2) Use of Guideline in CDS – Documentation of use of CDC guideline during patient care during the 90 day or year-long attestation period.

Information:

CDC Guideline: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html

Seeing new and follow-up Medicaid patients in a timely manner, including individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. A timely manner is defined as within 10 business days for this activity.

Ensure timely treatment of Medicaid patients, thus helping to improve health outcomes for dually eligible patients.

Evidence of eligible clinicians seeing Medicaid patients in a timely manner including patients dually eligible. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Appointments for Medicaid and dually eligible Medicaid/Medicare patients within 10 days of request – Electronic health record (EHR) or scheduling system (may be manual) data demonstrating time of appointment request and time of actual appointment. Appointments should be new requests (new condition or complaint) that are not part of routine follow-up; OR
2) Identification of disparities and plans for improvement – Assessment of new and follow-up visit appointment statistics and other patient-level data to identify areas of improvement, and especially disparities in timeliness of follow-up across different segments of the patient population; and documentation of plans for improvement activities to address issues and/or disparities.

Demonstrate performance of activities for employing patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools and corresponding collection of PRO data such as the use of PHQ-2 or PHQ-9, PROMIS instruments, patient reported Wound-Quality of Life (QoL), patient reported Wound Outcome, and patient reported Nutritional Screening.

Make it possible to use Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) data as part of routine care, thus increasing patient engagement and health outcomes for all populations.

Demonstrated performance of activities to promote use of PRO tools and corresponding collection of PRO data. Include both of the following elements:

1) Promotion of PRO tools – Evidence that eligible clinicians are promoting use of PRO tools with their patients (e.g., documented notes in electronic health record, PRO materials); AND
2) PRO data collection – Feedback reports demonstrating use of PRO tools and corresponding collection of PRO data

Information:

• PRO Measurement Information System (PROMIS): https://www.healthmeasures.net/explore-measurement-systems/promis
• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ): https://www.phqscreeners.com

MIPS eligible clinician leadership in clinical trials, research alliances or community-based participatory research (CBPR) that identify tools, research or processes that can focuses on minimizing disparities in healthcare access, care quality, affordability, or outcomes.

Develop evidence-based tools, research, or processes for minimizing disparities in healthcare access, care quality, affordability, or outcomes.

Evidence of leadership in clinical trials, research alliances, or community-based participatory research (CPBR), focusing on minimizing disparities in healthcare access, care quality, affordability, or outcomes. Include both of the following elements:

1) Evidence of research leadership – Documentation of participation and leadership by eligible clinicians in clinical trials, research alliances, or CBPR; AND
2) Evidence of disparities focus – Evidence of research focused on minimizing disparities in healthcare access, care quality, affordability, or outcomes. May include: description of tool identification or development, processes studied, intended or actual aims and outcomes, etc.

MIPS eligible clinicians acting as a preceptor for clinicians-in-training (such as medical residents/fellows, medical students, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists) and accepting such clinicians for clinical rotations in community practices in small, underserved, or rural areas.

Provide clinicians-in-training with diverse experiences, allowing them to gain deep understanding of the challenges facing eligible clinicians and patients in small practices or in underserved or rural areas.

Evidence of participation as a preceptor for clinicians-in-training and accepting clinical rotations in community practices in small underserved or rural areas. Include all of the following elements:

1) Proof of preceptor role – Documentation of participation as a preceptor for eligible clinicians-in-training (e.g., contract or communications with an academic-based health care organization). Any eligible clinician can serve as a preceptor; AND
2) Specific clinical rotations – Evidence of clinical rotation assignments in community practices in small, underserved, or rural areas. The 2019 CMS Final Rule defines small, underserved, or rural areas by ZIP codes designated as rural, using the most recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Area Health Resource File data set.

Information:

To confirm eligibility prior to attestation, CMS recommends that practices consult the HRSA Area Health Resource File: https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address.

Please note:

• New eligible clinician training conducted at a practice not deemed to be in an underserved area, or provided at a university or hospital, would not meet the eligibility criteria.
• Eligible clinicians who are not located in an underserved area and treat patients who come to the practice from underserved areas do not meet the intent of this activity.
• Teaching at a hospital or university does not meet the intent of this activity.

To receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must promote the importance of a comprehensive eye exam, which may be accomplished by any one or more of the following:  

• providing literature, 
• facilitating a conversation about this topic using resources such as the “Think About Your Eyes” campaign,  
• referring patients to resources providing no-cost eye exams, such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America and the American Optometric Association’s VISION USA, or 
• promoting access to vision rehabilitation services as appropriate for individuals with chronic vision impairment.

This activity is intended for:

• Non-ophthalmologists / optometrists who refer patients to an ophthalmologist/optometrist;
• Ophthalmologists/optometrists caring for underserved patients at no cost; or
• Any clinician providing literature and/or resources on this topic.

This activity must be targeted at underserved and/or high-risk populations that would benefit from engagement regarding their eye health with the aim of improving their access to comprehensive eye exams or vision rehabilitation services.

Improve eye health of underserved and/or high-risk populations, and empower patients in these populations to become more educated consumers of eye care.

Evidence that eligible clinicians help underserved and/or high-risk populations understand the importance of their eye health and provide support to access comprehensive eye exams. Include all of the following elements:

1) Proof of eligible clinician/group type – Evidence that the attesting eligible clinicians are either: a providing literature and/or resources on the topic of comprehensive eye exam importance; a) non-ophthalmologists or optometrist who refer patients to an ophthalmologist/optometrist; b) ophthalmologists/optometrist caring for underserved patients at no cost; or c) eligible clinicians; AND
2) Promotion of comprehensive eye exam – Documentation that literature and/or conversation about the importance of comprehensive eye exams were provided to targeted underserved and/or high-risk populations (e.g., visit note made in medical record; copy of literature provided); AND
3) Referrals to no-cost eye exams – Documentation of patient referrals made to resources providing no-cost eye exams (e.g., American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeCare America, American Optometric Association's VISION USA) for targeted underserved and/or high-risk populations.

Participation in Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, or Community Emergency Responder Teams. Activities that simply involve registration are not sufficient. MIPS eligible clinicians and MIPS eligible clinician groups must be registered for a minimum of 6 months as a volunteer for disaster or emergency response.

Provide sustained support to communities facing the impact of disasters, filling immediate needs, and contributing to a faster, better recovery.

Evidence of participation in Disaster Medical Assistance Team or Community Emergency Responder Team for at least 6 months as a volunteer. Include the following element:

1) Details and confirmation of participation – Documentation of participation in Disaster Medical Assistance or Community Emergency Responder Teams for at least 6 months including registration and active participation (e.g., attendance at training, on-site participation).

Participation in domestic or international humanitarian volunteer work. Activities that simply involve registration are not sufficient. MIPS eligible clinicians and groups attest to domestic or international humanitarian volunteer work for a period of a continuous 60 days or greater.

Provide sustained support to communities across the globe that need humanitarian volunteer support, thus helping to alleviate suffering, save lives, and maintain human dignity.

Evidence of participation in domestic or international humanitarian volunteer work for at least a continuous 60 day duration. Include the following element:

1) Details and confirmation of participation – Documentation of participation in domestic or international humanitarian volunteer work for at least a continuous 60 day duration including registration and active participation (e.g., identification of location of volunteer work, timeframe, and confirmation from humanitarian organization).

To receive credit for this improvement activity, a MIPS eligible clinician or group must: (1) participate in a COVID-19 clinical trial utilizing a drug or biological product to treat a patient with a COVID-19 infection and report their findings through a clinical data repository or clinical data registry for the duration of their study; or (2) participate in the care of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and simultaneously submit relevant clinical data to a clinical data registry for ongoing or future COVID-19 research. Data would be submitted to the extent permitted by applicable privacy and security laws. Examples of COVID-19 clinical trials may be found on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=COVID-19. In addition, examples of COVID-19 clinical data registries may be found on the National Institute of Health website at https://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=nih&query=COVID19+registries&commit=Search. 

For purposes of this improvement activity, clinical data registries must meet the following requirements: (1) the receiving entity must declare that they are ready to accept data as a clinical registry; and (2) be using the data to improve population health outcomes. Most public health agencies and clinical data registries declare readiness to accept data from clinicians via a public online posting. Clinical data registries should make publically available specific information on what data the registry gathers, technical requirements or specifications for how the registry can receive the data, and how the registry may use, re-use, or disclose individually identifiable data it receives. For purposes of credit toward this improvement activity, any data should be sent to the clinical data registry in a structured format, which the registry is capable of receiving. A MIPS-eligible clinician may submit the data using any standard or format that is supported by the clinician’s health IT systems, including but not limited to, certified functions within those systems. Such methods may include, but are not limited to, a secure upload function on a web portal, or submission via an intermediary, such as a health information exchange. To ensure interoperability and versatility of the data submitted, any electronic data should be submitted to the clinical data registry using appropriate vocabulary standards for the specific data elements, such as those identified in the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) standard adopted in 45 CFR 170.213.

Contribute to the development of clinically proven treatments for COVID-19.

Evidence of participation in the COVID-19 clinical trial. Include both of the following elements:

1) Clinical trial details – Details to verify participation in an acceptable COVID-19 clinical trial. The type of clinical trial could include designs ranging from the traditional double-blinded placebo-controlled trial to an adaptive design or pragmatic design that flexes to workflow and clinical practice context. It may be conducted in large organized clinical trials led by academic medical centers or healthcare systems. In addition, we intend for this activity to be applicable to eligible clinicians who are reporting their COVID-19 related patient data to a clinical data repository, such as Oracle’s COVID-19 Therapeutic Learning System (https://covid19.oracle.com/); AND
2) Clinical data submission – Evidence of submission of clinical data to the clinical data repository or registry supporting the COVID-19 clinical trial (e.g., screenshot from the participating clinical data repository or clinical data registry).

Data registries may include:

• Healthcare Worker Exposure Response & Outcomes (HERO) Registry: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=b5fdaaa2-e9a9b3de-b5fd9b9d-0cc47adc5f...
• American Heart Association (AHA) COVID-19 cardiovascular disease (CVD) registry: https://www.heart.org/en/professional/quality-improvement/covid-19-cvd-r...

Information:

For more information on the COVID-19 clinical trials we refer readers to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=COVID-19.

Diabetes screening for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disease who are using antipsychotic medication.

Improve rates of screening for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, who have higher risk or higher prevalence of diabetes relative to the general population, thus increasing eligible clinicians' ability to detect and respond early to positive diagnoses, potentially reducing the burden and complications of the disease.

Demonstration of diabetes screening for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disease who are using antipsychotic medication. Include both of the following elements:

1) Identification of patients – Evidence of regular identification of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disease who are using antipsychotic medication and who should receive diabetes screening (e.g., report from the electronic health record [EHR], flag or note in the EHR or medical chart, registry, other population health management tracking report); AND
2) Documented diabetes screenings – Percentage of patients identified in element “1)” (for example, annually) who receive a diabetes screening, with supporting documentation from EHR reports, medical charts, or claims.

Tobacco use: Regular engagement of MIPS eligible clinicians or groups in integrated prevention and treatment interventions, including tobacco use screening and cessation interventions (refer to NQF #0028) for patients with co-occurring conditions of behavioral or mental health and at risk factors for tobacco dependence.

Help patients at high risk for tobacco dependence and with behavioral or mental conditions to avoid or end addiction to tobacco.

Demonstration of regular engagement in integrated prevention and treatment interventions including tobacco use screening and cessation interventions for patients with a diagnosis of behavioral or mental health disorders with risk factors for tobacco dependence. Include all of the following elements:

1) Identification of patients with behavioral or mental health conditions and tobacco dependence risk factors – Report from the electronic health record (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry, or other system demonstrating that the eligible clinician tracks patients with conditions of behavioral health or mental health with risk factors for tobacco dependence; AND
2) Evidence of screening – Report from EHR, QCDR, clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing regular practice of tobacco screening for patients with conditions of behavioral or mental health with risk factors for tobacco dependence; AND
3) Evidence of cessation interventions – Report from EHR, QCDR, clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing regular practice of tobacco cessation interventions for patients with behavioral or mental health disorders with risk factors for tobacco dependence.

Depression screening and follow-up plan: Regular engagement of MIPS eligible clinicians or groups in integrated prevention and treatment interventions, including depression screening and follow-up plan (refer to NQF #0418) for patients with co-occurring conditions of behavioral or mental health conditions.

Improve the identification of depression among patients with behavioral or mental health conditions and sustain patient-centered support and treatment for those diagnosed with depression.

Demonstration of regular engagement in integrated prevention and treatment interventions including depression screening and follow-up plan for patients diagnosed with behavioral or mental health disorders. Include both of the following elements:

1) Identification of patients with behavioral or mental health conditions and depression risk factors – Report from the electronic health record (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry, or other system demonstrating that the eligible clinician tracks patients with conditions of behavioral health or mental health and with risk factors for depression; AND
2) Evidence of depression screening – Report from the electronic health record (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing regular practice for depression screening for patients with diagnosed behavioral or mental health disorders; AND
3) Evidence of depression follow-up – Report from EHR, QCDR, clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing depression follow-up plan for patients with positive screen.

Major depressive disorder: Regular engagement of MIPS eligible clinicians or groups in integrated prevention and treatment interventions, including suicide risk assessment (refer to NQF #0104) for mental health patients with co-occurring conditions of behavioral or mental health conditions.

Increase patient-centered support and treatment for patients with conditions of behavioral or mental health conditions to prevent severe depression and suicide.

Demonstration of regular engagement in prevention and treatment interventions including suicide risk assessment for mental health patients with conditions of behavioral or mental health. Include all of the following elements:

1) Identification of patients with behavioral or mental health conditions and depression risk factors – Report from the electronic health record (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry or other system demonstrating that the eligible clinician tracks patients with conditions of behavioral health or mental health and with risk factors for depression; AND
2) Evidence of screening – Report from the electronic health record (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing regular practice for screening, including suicide risk assessment for mental health patients with behavioral or mental health disorders; AND
3) Evidence of prevention and treatment – Report from EHR, QCDR, clinical registry, or documentation from medical charts showing patients receiving prevention and/or treatment services based on screening results.

Integration facilitation and promotion of the colocation of mental health and substance use disorder services in primary and/or non-primary clinical care settings.

Integrate mental health and substance use disorder services with primary and/or non-primary clinical care through the co-location and co-promotion of these services.

Evidence of integrated mental health and substance use disorder services in primary and/or non-primary clinical care settings and promotion to patients. Include both of the following elements:

1) Co-location of services – Documentation of integration and promotion of co-located mental health and substance use disorder services in primary and/or non-primary clinical care settings, (e.g., list of National Provider Identifiers [NPIs] for clinicians who participate as behavioral health specialists, mental health clinicians or primary care clinicians in co-located settings or patient claims showing mental health and substance use disorder services co-located in primary and/or non-primary clinical care settings); AND
2) Promotion of co-located services – Evidence that co-located services are promoted or advertised to patients and regularly utilized in care (e.g., record of warm handoffs, promotion materials in waiting room, promotion of services in patient portal).

Offer integrated behavioral health services to support patients with behavioral health needs who also have conditions such as dementia or other poorly controlled chronic illnesses. The services could include one or more of the following: 

• Use evidence-based treatment protocols and treatment to goal where appropriate;
• Use evidence-based screening and case finding strategies to identify individuals at risk and in need of services;
• Ensure regular communication and coordinated workflows between MIPS eligible clinicians in primary care and behavioral health;
• Conduct regular case reviews for at-risk or unstable patients and those who are not responding to treatment;
• Use of a registry or health information technology functionality to support active care management and outreach to patients in treatment;
• Integrate behavioral health and medical care plans and facilitate integration through co-location of services when feasible; and/or
• Participate in the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care Initiative, which promotes a multidimensional approach that includes public reporting, state-based coalitions, research, training, and revised surveyor guidance

Support patients with behavioral health needs and poorly controlled chronic illnesses though integrated behavioral health services and the use of evidence-based tools or other initiatives.

Evidence of integrated behavioral health services to support patients with behavioral health needs and poorly controlled chronic conditions (may use certified electronic health records (EHR), qualified clinical data registry (QCDR), clinical registry, or medical records). Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Use of evidence-based tools – Documented use of evidence-based tools (e.g., treatment protocols, screening tools); OR
2) Communication between primary care and behavioral health – Documentation could include EHR note that shows that the patient saw a behavioral health professional who communicated with the eligible primary care clinician or practice team, a record of a referral by the eligible primary care clinician to a behavioral health specialist, or documentation of staffing or behavioral health co-located in the primary care practice; OR
3) Behavioral health integration in primary care – Documented integration of behavioral health services with primary care to support patients with behavioral health needs (e.g., dementia) and poorly controlled chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease); OR
4) Active care management and outreach – Use of a clinical registry or certified EHR to support active care management and outreach to patients receiving treatment; OR
5) Participation in a relevant program or initiative – Participation in a program or initiative with a multidimensional approach to support patients with behavioral health needs and poorly controlled chronic conditions (e.g., National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes).

Enhancements to an electronic health record to capture additional data on behavioral health (BH) populations and use that data for additional decision-making purposes (e.g., capture of additional BH data results in additional depression screening for at-risk patient not previously identified).

Continually improve the care provided to behavioral health populations through evidence-based interventions and the use of electronic health record technology (EHR).

Documented use of EHR to capture data on behavioral health populations and use data to inform clinical decision-making. Include both of the following elements:

1) Screenshots of data capture – Screenshots from EHR or from other software/tools integrated with the EHR displaying behavioral health data capture (e.g., capture of additional behavioral health data results in additional depression screening for at risk patient not previously identified); AND
2) Data reports – Reports showing how additional behavioral health data are captured and used for decision-making (e.g., dashboards, improvement plans).

An eligible clinician or practice expands data capture for behavioral health populations to include information on substance use, potential eating disorders, and social determinants of health. This eligible clinician or practice also ensures that all data on chronic medical conditions is being captured for these individuals. Through this improved data capture, the eligible clinician or practice identifies a subgroup of patients misusing substances and works to engage these patients in cognitive behavioral therapy.

Individual MIPS eligible clinicians or groups must regularly engage in integrated prevention and treatment interventions, including screening and brief counseling (for example: NQF #2152) for patients with co-occurring conditions of mental health and substance abuse. MIPS eligible clinicians would attest that 60 percent for the CY 2018 Quality Payment Program performance period, and 75 percent beginning in the 2019 performance period, of their ambulatory care patients are screened for unhealthy alcohol use.

Help patients better manage or overcome their alcohol and/or other substance abuse challenges through screenings and counseling.

Evidence of regular integrated prevention and treatment interventions with documented screening and brief counseling for patients with diagnosed coexistence of a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Include both of the following elements:

1) Documented screening and brief counseling – Screenshots from electronic health record (EHR) or from other software/tools demonstrating integrated prevention and treatment interventions (e.g., evidence of screening and brief counseling for patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders); AND
2) Evidence of percent of patients screened – 75% of ambulatory care patients are screened for unhealthy alcohol use.

To receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must complete a collaborative care management training program, such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Collaborative Care Model training program available to the public, in order to implement a collaborative care management approach that provides comprehensive training in the integration of behavioral health into the primary care practice.

Develop strategies to improve integration of behavioral health into primary care practices, ultimately improving patient-centeredness of care and health outcomes for mental health patients.

Documented completion of a collaborative care management training program such as the American Psychological Association Collaborative Care Model training program. Include at least one of the following elements:

1) Certificate of completion – Eligible clinicians and groups must provide authentic documentation of collaborative care management training program completion (electronic or paper); OR
2) Implementation of approach – Documented implementation of a collaborative care management approach that provides comprehensive training in the integration of behavioral health into the primary care practice (e.g., a workflow diagram, listed staff and clinician roles and responsibilities, documented policies and procedures for approach).

N/A

Obtaining Patient-Centered Medical Home™ certification drives significant and sustainable practice improvements including population care quality, efficiency, and improved patient satisfaction all directly linked to better health outcomes.

Evidence of meeting performance standards and expectations pertaining to the Patient-Centered Medical Home™ model. Include the following element: 1) Recognition certificate – Documented recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home™ from a regional or state program, private payer, or other body that certifies at least 500 or more practices for Patient-Centered Medical Home™ accreditation or comparable specialty practice certification.

Any clinician or group interested in attesting to IA_PCMH as their improvement activity must meet the criteria for recognition as a Patient-Centered Medical Home™ or comparable specialty practice participant. Information about criteria for a practice to be certified or recognized as a patient-centered medical home or comparable specialty practice can be found at the following in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR [§ 414.1380(b)(3)(ii)]).