9 MIPS Tips to Stay on Track for the Last 90 Days of 2021
There are just 90 days until the 2021 MIPS performance year ends! This means that if you are hoping to mitigate a penalty of up to 9% and have a chance of earning a potential +7.34%*.
What to do to stay in the CMS MIPS game and do your best…
1. If you haven’t already completed your 90-day window for all applicable Promoting Interoperability measures, get started no later than October 3rd.
2. Check your quality measure scores – quality is King and represent the biggest possible area to earn points!
3. Don’t stop collecting quality measure data. Every measure – every patient – every time is what we like to say! Keep asking questions and documenting for the measures you have selected all the way until the end of the year.
4. Complete your security risk analysis. This is not something your EMR vendor does, nor is their documentation enough to cover you. You need to address all aspects for administrative, physical and technical requirements across each location! This scoreless prerequisite is very important and not something to just “check the box” on.
5. If you have not done the appropriated number of improvement activities make sure you start them on or before October 3rd to ensure category compliance. Also, if you’re reporting as a group more than 50% of all providers need to be doing the activity.
6. Close gaps on quality measure, where possible before December 31st! If you can see gaps in data collection for certain measures and encounters and have the time and means to close quality gaps do so before the year ends.
7. Build you annual book of evidence. This step plays a critical role now and for years to come in the event of an audit!
8. Know how you will submit data for each category. Will you be waiting for your EMR vendor to submit for you? Will you report some data to QPP online and need a login or password update? Or maybe your registry will do it all. Regardless document how and where you will report data.
9. Prepare for your deadlines. Reporting anything via QPP usually starts right around New Year’s Day and must be submitted by April 1, 2022. Vendors and registries are all unique though. So, create a checklist so you don’t overlook a reporting deadline or miss out on critical MIPS points.
No matter where you stand with MIPS today, continue your MIPS diligent efforts with a strong 4th quarter plan. If you’re a physician or clinician who has not participated or acted on the program so far this year, consider getting with the MIPS program. Even with 90 days to go you can still work to mitigate a good deal of the 9% penalty. Need some last-minute expert guidance? We can help….
*Per the CY 2021 PFS Final Rule, CMS states that with the finalized performance threshold at 60 points the maximum payment adjustment is up to +7.36 percent.