CMS now has a performance category called clinical practice improvement activities. Audiologists who are required to participate in MIPS must successfully report under both the quality categories and the clinical practice improvement activities category in order to achieve a payment bonus.
To earn full credit under the clinical practice improvement category, participants must submit one of the following combinations of activities (each activity must be performed for a minimum of 90 continuous days during 2020):
- Two high-weighted activities
- One high-weighted activity and two medium-weighted activities
- Four medium-weighted activities
Note: Practices with fewer than 15 providers receive double points for clinical improvement activities, so only one high- or two medium-weighted activities would be needed in this case.
By visiting CMS’ 2020 Quality Measures, you will see a comprehensive list of clinical practice improvement activities available for 2020. We encourage you to become familiar with these activities and the associated scoring mechanisms, in order to maximize your opportunity for a payment bonus for successful MIPS reporting.
Some activities that may work for an audiology practice are listed below. However, as stated above, you should review the complete list of available clinical practice improvement activities to select those that are most applicable to your practice.
- Collection and follow-up regarding patient experience and regarding satisfaction data on beneficiary engagement
- Collection and use of patient experience and satisfaction data regarding access
- Implementation of improvements that contribute to more timely communication of test results
- Improved practices that engage patients pre-visit
- Promotion of the use of patient-reported outcome tools
- Depression screenings
- Diabetes screenings
- Engagement of patients, family members, and caregivers in developing a plan of care
- Implementation of a fall screening and assessment program
- Regular assessment of the patient’s experience of care through surveys, advisory councils, and other mechanisms