Since 2017, MIPS (The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System) has been an integral part of physicians’ professional life. At least for eligible physicians. And with penalties getting more tangible, healthcare professionals have no way out other than being serious about MIPS 2024 reporting services.
CMS MIPS services, although, cover quality outcomes across the board but the specifics have always remained an issue.
The stakeholders and industry leaders argued that in the hope of making healthcare delivery better, MIPS 2024 services indeed took it one step further. But what about the specialties?
Most MIPS quality measures seem to be generalized and specialties are seen scratching their heads. One such specialty is Emergency Medicine (EM).
MVPs 2024 Saving the Day for Specialties in MIPS 2024 Reporting Services
To prevent the vagueness of the MIPS services 2024, MVPs (MIPS Value Pathways) have been introduced. But emergency medicine specialists are still hanging.
Why MVPs Are NOT the Ultimate Answer for EM MIPS 2024 Participation?
MVPs provide custom solutions with a defined set of MIPS quality outcomes to report in different categories. In 2024, there are 16 sets for eligible physicians to decide upon and report.
However, EM experts can’t rely solely on those defined sets. They would have to analyze their MIPS 2024 reporting strategy or consult a CMS-recognized Qualified Registry to do it for them. This will help them navigate their way through the MIPS program participation.
Changes for EM in MIPS 2024 Reporting Services
- The MVPs are specialty-specific, thus, some of their outcomes align with EM and primary care. Moreover, the program also calls for reporting 4 quality measures with 1 outcome measure. Traditionally, they would have to report 6 quality measures in total.
- EM providers must report 2 population health measures if they choose to report via MVPs.
Furthermore, MVP for EM has 1 cost measure. For regular MIPS 2024 reporting services, 29 measures are to be analyzed in this category.
This reporting dynamics is believed to be in the best interests of eligible clinicians as it addresses the specifics. But, does it help the EM? While implementation, the CMS Qualified Registry can comment better on this.
What Makes the Difference for EM in MIPS 2024 Reporting?
Comparing MIPS with MVP for EM, it’s evident that category score weights get shifted as per the specialty.
For MIPS 2024, the category weights are as follows:
- Quality – 30%
- Promoting Interoperability (PI) – 25%
- Improvement Activities (IA) – 15%
- Cost – 30%
But Cost and PI measures don’t apply to Emergency Medicine practitioners. Therefore, the respective weights add to the Quality category.
However, with the shift to the MVPs, EM specialists have to focus on the Cost and Population Health Outcomes. So, the breakdown of the MIPS 2024 reporting services strategy makes all the difference.
So, MVP Reporting Is Right for EM?
Experts say it’s a risk. On one hand, MVPs offer a custom approach to EM measures that results in high MIPS scores. But you get the defined domain and do not have the liberty to explore areas. On the other hand, MIPS 2024 presents a pick-and-choose approach for reporting measures. Such as CMS calculates Cost and Population Health Outcomes by itself and attributes their weights to the Quality category.
Eligible clinicians can of course make a guess but it will always be a surprise, falling on any side.
There is uncertainty that only time can resolve.
What Should EM Do for MIPS Reporting 2024?
In light of all the arguments, the best approach is to choose more than one MIPS 2024 reporting services option. CMS gives the leverage of assigning the highest score given multiple reporting methods.
So, if you got the resources and a CMS Qualified Registry at your disposal, use multiple options to track your progress.
Conclusion
EM is such a field that is variant in its delivery. The focus is more on the quality of care delivery rather than cost or population health outcome. So, to gain more incentives and to be sure of the outcomes of MIPS 2024 reporting services, it’s better to participate via multiple methods including MVPs.
