Posted by Karen Grace Larsen
The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data submission window has just closed for performance year 2023. As healthcare providers from around the country breathe a sigh of relief, many contemplate the challenges they faced and the lessons that came with them.
While some navigated the process smoothly, achieving their desired outcomes and maximizing reimbursement potential, others encountered pitfalls, missed opportunities, and things they wish they handled differently.
If you're still recovering from the headache 2023 caused, we might have just the remedy for a smoother MIPS 2024 journey.
Top Strategies for MIPS Reporting 2024
As the dust settles on MIPS reporting for 2023, the new performance year has already begun. With it comes a renewed opportunity for success—if you don’t make the same mistakes again. To pave the way for a more fruitful MIPS performance year ahead, let's explore the top strategies curated for 2024.
Conduct a Comprehensive Data Review
A comprehensive data review lays the groundwork for accurate reporting and performance improvement, which is why every provider needs to dive into the intricacies of their practice data.
By meticulously scrutinizing your data, you can identify areas of improvement, rectify potential discrepancies, and bridge any documentation gaps that could adversely impact your MIPS scores. Ensure that the data you submit for MIPS reporting is complete, reliable, and reflective of the quality of care you deliver. Here are a few ways to do that:
- Implement systematic data collection processes.
- Conduct regular audits and reviews of patient records, billing codes, and clinical documentation.
- Leverage your electronic health records (EHR) system’s data collection features. IMS, for example, allows you to generate data from every aspect of your practice with its advanced analytics features.
Ensure Accurate and Timely Data Capture
Complete and accurate data is paramount in MIPS reporting because your scores rely heavily on the data you submit. This is especially true now that the data completeness threshold for each quality measure has increased from 70% to 75% beginning in the 2024 MIPS performance period.
Accurate and timely data capture ensures you meet reporting deadlines, avoid potential penalties, and maximize your chances for MIPS payments.
An excellent way to make MIPS reporting as streamlined and stress-free as possible is by automating your data capture process—and a comprehensive, customizable software is the perfect tool to boost your score.
Meditab’s award-winning flagship software, IMS, can be thoroughly set up, mapped, and customized to automate your MIPS program data capture process.
Engage in Regular Performance Monitoring
A common mistake providers make during MIPS reporting is waiting until the last minute to spot potential issues and take corrective action. Unfortunately, doing this leaves your team less time and opportunity to improve before the reporting period ends.
Instead of taking a reactive approach to MIPS, be proactive and engage in continuous performance monitoring all year long.
- Generate regular MIPS performance reports to track your progress.
- Celebrate performance improvements.
- Discuss performance dips and brainstorm data-backed strategies to address them.
- Provide your team with workflow training reinforcement
Utilize Quality Improvement Activities
The Improvement Activities performance category within MIPS was created to promote ongoing improvement and innovation among practices. It assesses how much you participate in activities that improve clinical practice.
To earn full credit in this performance category for your 2024 MIPS reporting, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires you to attest to completing one of the following combinations of activities:
- Two (2) high-weighted activities
- One (1) high-weighted activity and two (2) medium-weighted activities
- Four (4) medium-weighted activities
There are 106 improvement activities in total, but not all of them are applicable to your practice. To ensure the highest chance of MIPS success, you must select quality improvement activities that align with your practice's goals, priorities, and resources. Leveraging the experience and expertise of a Quality Payment Program (QPP) professional can help you do that.
QPP specialists can provide valuable insights into which improvement activities best fit your practice based on your clinic workflow. They can also help you determine which ones carry the most weight in terms of MIPS scoring and reimbursement potential, helping you maximize your performance and financial incentives.
Educate Staff on MIPS Requirements and Updates
MIPS is a multifaceted program with evolving regulations and performance measures. This means every time you welcome a new performance year, you welcome a new set of MIPS updates.
Unfortunately, office managers and healthcare providers don’t usually have the time to study the latest MIPS developments or train their entire team about them. As a result, the practice falls behind in meeting MIPS reporting requirements.
A smarter approach to this strategy is to engage the services of MIPS and QPP experts who specialize in educating healthcare teams on the program's intricacies. Work with attestation experts who can equip you with MIPS-specific tools and tailored training sessions designed to educate your staff about MIPS reporting requirements and scoring methodologies.
By keeping your staff up to date on MIPS requirements and the latest changes, you empower them to capture and document data accurately, meet reporting deadlines, and ensure that no crucial score-impacting information is left out.
Read More: Why It Pays to Get Quality Payment Program (QPP) Support
Partnering for Success: Meet Our QPP Support Team
Meditab’s Quality Payment Program Service provides practices like yours with the MIPS software and support you need for a successful MIPS journey. Our team of seasoned attestation experts are ready to assist you from start to finish:
- We notify you once you’re eligible to participate in the incentive programs.
- We help you determine which MIPS measures best fit your practice.
- We set up, map, and customize your IMS to automate the compliance process.
- We train your staff members to use the MIPS-specific tools in IMS.
- We run regular checks to track your progress and provide you with necessary feedback.
- We assist with data validation and submission.
- We provide full support with documentation during CMS audits.
From automated reports and intuitive dashboards to staff training and data submission, Meditab has you covered!
Take Action Now for Better MIPS 2024 Outcomes
Prime your practice for MIPS success in 2024! Don't miss out on the long-term benefits of value-based care, enhanced practice efficiency, and better financial performance.
Start implementing the top strategies and set yourself on the path to better MIPS outcomes—Meditab’s QPP and MIPS Service is here for you every step of the way!
Learn from past experiences, leverage expert guidance, and position your practice for a more prosperous MIPS journey in 2024!
