Healthmonix Advisor

A Guide to Choosing Quality Measures (Part 2)

Posted by Lauren Patrick on August 18, 2017

In our last post, we covered some of the basic questions you should be asking yourself when choosing quality measures to report under MIPS. In part two of this series, we go over a few more specific questions that can help guide you to picking the best measures for your practice.

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category

A Guide to Choosing Quality Measures (Part 1)

Posted by Lauren Patrick on August 11, 2017

So you’re a MIPS-eligible clinician (if you’re not sure about your participation status, check out our post about how to find out), and you don’t want your practice to miss out on the reimbursement you know you deserve. But how should you decide which quality measures to actually report to CMS? How can you know if the measures you’re choosing will ultimately lead to reporting success, and is there a way to use those measures to not just fulfill the requirements but actually improve your practice? We’ve put together a two-part post to guide you through the most important factors to consider when deciding what might be best for you and your practice. First, the basics:

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category

A Brief Overview of MIPS Quality Measures

Posted by Lauren Patrick on August 4, 2017

what-is-a-quality-measure.pngThe shift from volume to value-based care can be frustrating, especially when the reasons behind such a significant change aren’t clear. But with an estimated 250,000 American deaths per year caused by medical errors, minimizing these errors is a noble and vital effort. Additionally, CMS is now raising the bar for healthcare providers with the assessment of quality metrics against benchmarks and peers. With that in mind, let’s break down the meaning of, and intentions behind, Quality Measures.

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category

Roadmap to Reporting MIPS Quality Measures

Posted by Christina Zink on April 7, 2017

The Quality Performance Category

The Quality Performance Category is one of four Performance Categories to be reported for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Carrying the highest weight of the four Performance Categories, the Quality Score will determine 60% of the MIPS Composite Performance Score for eligible clinicians or groups.

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category

How CMS will score MIPS Quality Measures in 2017

Posted by Lauren Patrick on February 1, 2017

The MIPS Quality Performance Category is replacing PQRS reporting in 2017, folding it into the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. The Quality portion will comprise 60% of an eligible clinician's MIPS Composite Performance Score for 2017.  To calculate that score, there is significant math involved.  This article will walk you though the calculations and logic used to determine your Quality score, but it is important to note that many data submission vendors will automatically give you a predictive calculation.

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category

MIPS Performance Categories in the MACRA Final Rule

Posted by Christina Zink on October 14, 2016

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final rule with comment period for the Quality Payment Program under MACRA. Consistent with what was discussed in the proposed rule, the MACRA Quality Payment Program will have two tracks: (1) Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). 

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Topics: MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category, ACI Performance Category, IA Performance Category, Cost Performance Category

10 PRO Tips for Conquering the Quality Performance Category of MIPS (Part 2)

Posted by Lauren Patrick on September 15, 2016

Last week, we introduced some of the core concepts of the MIPS Quality Performance Category. This week, we are going to elaborate on these premises with Part 2 of our "10 PRO tips for Conquering the Quality Performance Category of MIPS."

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Topics: PRO Tips, PQRS, MACRA & MIPS, Quality Performance Category

10 PRO Tips for Conquering the Quality Performance Category of MIPS (Part 1)

Posted by Lauren Patrick on September 8, 2016

Under the forthcoming Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is being absorbed into the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Specifically, PQRS will transition into one of the four Performance Categorys of MIPS, the Quality Performance Category.

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Topics: PRO Tips, MACRA & MIPS, Quality Performance Category

The Four Performance Categories of MIPS: PQRS in Sheep's Clothing

Posted by Lauren Patrick on August 4, 2016

As a young adult from a small town in Ohio, the prospect of leaving my hometown to go to college was a frightening one. I was anxious to leave the familiarity of my high school, and the routine I had perfected to remain an A student. The only expectation that I had was given to me by my teachers, who reported that college would be significantly different and more challenging than high school. As I packed up my ‘63 International Scout to drive to college in August of 1975, the fear of failure was present and strong. However, when I arrived, I found the classes were similar, the pedagogical approach was the same, and as long as I showed up and did the work, I could do as well as I did in high school.

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Topics: PQRS, MACRA & MIPS, Policy, Quality Performance Category, ACI Performance Category, IA Performance Category, Cost Performance Category