Who are audiologists?
Audiologists are experts who can help to prevent, diagnose, and treat hearing and balance disorders for people of all ages in a variety of practice settings including outpatient clinics, schools, and hospitals. They provide professional and personalized services to improve people’s involvement in important activities in their lives and better their quality of life. An audiologist has completed 8–10 years of education and clinical training, with an AuD (doctor of Audiology), PhD, or an AuD/PhD combination degree.
What role do audiologists play in quality reporting?
Audiologists should engage in delivery of quality services that are patient-centered, evidence-based and enable the best outcome for the patient. One way audiologists demonstrate value for payment purposes is participating in quality reporting programs such as the Medicare QPP
Why should audiologists want to participate in quality reporting?
- The measures and activities demonstrate audiologists’ value to consumers and the healthcare system.
- The activities differentiate audiology from over the counter (OTC)/direct to consumer (DTC) entities, big box retailers, and hearing aid dispensers in the marketplace.
- These activities illustrate the evidence-based, patient-centric practice of audiology.
- The profession needs to obtain data and metrics on the quality and value of audiology evaluation and treatment services to patients and the healthcare system. The profession of Audiology needs to utilize these clinical data in legislative, regulatory, and advocacy initiatives as well as individual clinic improvement activities.
- Audiologists are one of the providers acknowledged by CMS for MIPS reporting and need to remain in parity with other doctoral-level health care providers to improve quality and optimize payment options afforded to the profession.