URGENT: CMS Suspends 8 MIPS Improvement Activities for 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has immediately suspended eight MIPS Improvement Activities (IAs) for the 2025 performance year under its 2021 suspension policy. This impacts all clinicians participating in MIPS—especially those in value-based care models.
🚨 Critical Timeline:
Effective Now: These activities cannot be used for 2025 reporting (unless already completed).
Future Rulemaking: CMS plans to permanently remove these activities—stay alert for updates.
Suspended Activities: What is Out for 2025
IA_AHE_5 - MIPS Eligible Clinician Leadership in Clinical Trials or Community Based Participatory Research
IA_AHE_12 - Practice Improvements that Engage Community Resources to Address Drivers of Health
IA_PM_6 - Use of Toolsets or Other Resources to Close Health and Health Care Inequities Across Communities
IA_AHE_8 - Create and Implement an Anti-Racism Plan
IA_AHE_11 - Create and implement a plan to improve care for LGBTQ+ Patients
IA_AHE_9 - Implement Food Insecurity and Nutrition Risk Identification and Treatment Protocols
IA_ERP_3 - COVID-19 Clinical Data Reporting with or without Clinical Trial
IA_PM_26 - Vaccine Achievement for Practice Staff: COVID-19, Influenza, and Hepatitis B
🔍 Key Suspensions:
IA_AHE_12 (Community Health Drivers): Previously used by 42% of ACOs (NAACOS 2023 data).
IA_PM_26 (Staff Vaccinations): No longer counts toward COVID-19/flu compliance.
Three Immediate Steps to Protect Your MIPS Score
1. Audit Your Current Activities
If you are already complete or more than midway through any suspended activity:
✅ You can still attest for credit in 2025.
❌ But do not start utilizing ones from this list.
2. Switch to These Approved Alternatives
(Replacements recommended by CMS)
Suspended Activity
Alternative for 2025
IA_AHE_12 (Community Health)
➔ IA_BE_6 (Patient Experience Surveys)
IA_PM_26 (Staff Vaccines)
➔ IA_EPA_3 (Health Equity Initiatives)
Pro Tip: Use the QPP Explore Measures Tool to filter 2025-approved activities.
3. Update Your Documents
Review and revise (if applicable) internal policies and EHR templates.
Train staff on new activity requirements.
Why CMS Made These Changes
Streamlining MIPS: Removing underutilized/overlapping activities.
Shifting Priorities: More focus on the patient experience.
Need Help?
📞 Call Our Experts: 888-647-7247
📧 Email: hello@chirpybirdinc.com
Key Takeaways
✔ 8 activities suspended check to see if you are using any of the named activities
✔ Attest completed activities but pivot to alternatives
✔ Prioritize IA_BE_6 and IA_EPA_3 for utilization
⚠️ Act Now: CMS resources are in the process of being updated—bookmark the QPP Site for real-time changes.
