2019 MIPS “REAL” Improvement Activities

Improvement Activities may be the most misunderstood performance category in the MIPS program:

• They are activities, not measures! This means a process, not a state of being.
• They require active clinician involvement – at least one clinician in the group.
• Focus should be on improvement – as in a continuous quality improvement program.
• Documentation must be maintained, since CMS will conduct audits!
• Failing a MIPS audit prior to the payment year in question will mean that your Medicare reimbursement rate will be reduced; failing an audit during or after the payment year will mean that you owe the government money!
• Registries can’t “do” Improvement Activities for you – even though they can electronically submit your attestation your behalf.

In this webinar, Carolyn Akhimiomoh and Katie Buckholtz of Eye Care Leaders will discuss:

• The basic concepts of what is meant by an Improvement Activity and how these differ from performance measures such as for Quality, Cost and Promoting Interoperability.
• Documentation requirements, so as to have confidence in case audited.
• Changes in scoring rules – for example that CMS is no longer offering bonus points for performing EHR-related Improvement Activities.
• An overview of the many Improvement Activities, and the “short list” selected by Eye Care Leaders as applicable for ophthalmology and optometry.
• A special focus on the first Improvement Activity specifically related to eye care, on “Comprehensive Eye Exams” – this activity requires interpretation since it is not actually about how to perform exams but rather how to educate underserved patients regarding the value of comprehensive eye exams.
• Special focus on the two Improvement Activities related to “referral loops”, since these have natural synergy with critical MIPS PI measures and can help you maximize your 2019 MIPS score.
• And more!

This webinar will provide valuable insights for:

• Physicians
• Administrators
• Billing departments
• And more!