You are currently viewing The 3 Most Effective Ways to Improve Your MIPS Score This Year

Your MIPS (Merit-based Incentive Payment System) score determines your Medicare payment adjustments. A higher score means better reimbursement, while a lower one can result in penalties. 

Key Takeaways

  • Accurate data entry and tracking are essential for a higher MIPS score.
  • Choosing the right performance measures improves reporting efficiency.
  • Regularly reviewing feedback helps identify and fix problem areas.
  • Leveraging technology streamlines reporting and reduces errors.
  • Meeting MIPS requirements on time prevents penalties and lost incentives.

3 Key Strategies to Improve MIPS Performance

Understanding these strategies can help you avoid common MIPS mistakes and boost your score. So, what are the steps you need to take to get the best results?

1. Optimize Your Data Accuracy and Reporting Process

Data accuracy is one of the biggest factors in improving your MIPS score. Errors in reporting can lead to lower scores and potential penalties. Even small mistakes in data entry can affect performance calculations.

Manually entering data increases the risk of errors and missing information. Understanding what is MIPS and its reporting requirements can help minimize these risks. Using automated tools can help verify accuracy and flag inconsistencies.

A structured approach to data collection ensures better tracking throughout the year.

Regularly reviewing submissions before the deadline can prevent common mistakes. Providers should also stay updated on MIPS requirements to ensure compliance. Consistently tracking and validating data improves reporting efficiency and accuracy.

Related: Achieving Excellence With MIPS: Strategies for Success

2. Select the Right Performance Measures for Your Practice

Choosing the right measures directly affects your MIPS score. Some providers select measures that don’t align with their specialty, reducing their chances of earning higher points. Selecting high-impact measures can significantly improve performance scores.

It’s important to track how each measure impacts your final score. Reviewing MIPS scoring helps prioritize measures that contribute the most. Practices should focus on reporting the highest-scoring metrics for their field.

Aligning MIPS reporting with your practice’s strengths makes the process more effective. Providers can improve results by choosing measures that match their patient population and workflows. Better measure selection leads to stronger MIPS performance.

3. Review Performance Feedback and Adjust Strategies

MIPS feedback reports provide valuable insights into performance gaps. Ignoring these reports means missing opportunities to improve scores. Many providers fail to adjust strategies based on past performance.

Reviewing feedback throughout the year allows time for corrections. Addressing problem areas before the next reporting cycle can prevent scoring issues. Making small adjustments based on past results can improve reimbursement potential.

Using tools to analyze feedback and compare previous scores is essential. Tracking performance trends can help refine strategies and boost compliance. A proactive approach to feedback leads to higher MIPS scores.

Related: Why MIPS Means More Than Just an +/- Adjustment

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Leverage Technology for a Better MIPS Score

Manually tracking MIPS data can slow down the reporting process. Automated systems make it easier to submit accurate reports and avoid errors. A strong reporting system helps providers stay compliant with evolving MIPS regulations.

Using an EHR with integrated MIPS tracking simplifies data collection. Real-time performance monitoring allows providers to adjust before submission. Technology reduces administrative burden while improving reporting accuracy.

Switching to an automated reporting platform can help meet compliance standards. Integrating a system with built-in compliance checks improves efficiency. Better reporting tools make achieving a higher MIPS score easier.

The Role of MIPS Value Pathways in Score Improvement

MIPS value pathways provide an alternative reporting framework designed to simplify the process. These pathways allow providers to report on a more focused set of measures tailored to their specialty. This structured approach can reduce reporting burdens while improving accuracy.

Providers using MIPS value pathways can streamline their submissions. Focusing on specialty-specific measures ensures that reported data is relevant and contributes to higher scores. Shifting to an MVP model can enhance efficiency while maintaining compliance.  In addition, entities can submit both MIPS and MVPs for the performance period and CMS will accept the better of the two scores and use the highest score to calculate the payment adjustment, so it’s a good strategic plan to submit both collection types if at all possible.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls That Lower MIPS Scores

Even with the best strategies, some providers make mistakes that negatively impact their MIPS scores. One common issue is failing to meet minimum data completeness thresholds. Incomplete submissions lead to reduced points or even score disqualification.

Another mistake is selecting low-weighted measures that don’t contribute much to the overall score. Reviewing MIPS essentials can help providers understand which measures matter most. Avoiding these pitfalls ensures that reporting efforts lead to the best possible outcomes.

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Maximizing Bonus Points for Higher Scores

MIPS offers bonus points for certain reporting activities. Providers can earn extra points by using end-to-end electronic reporting for APP Plus measure set, submitting high-priority measures, or reporting on complex patient cases. These bonuses can make a big difference in final scores.

It’s important to review potential bonus opportunities before submitting data. Some activities automatically qualify for additional points, but providers must actively include them in reporting. Taking advantage of bonus points can help practices boost their MIPS scores without extra work.

The Importance of Meeting Submission Deadlines

Missing MIPS deadlines can result in penalties and lost incentives. Some providers delay reporting until the last minute, leading to rushed submissions and avoidable mistakes. Creating a reporting timeline is a good way to help keep everything on track.

Providers should break the reporting process into smaller steps throughout the year. Regularly updating data ensures there are no last-minute issues. Submitting early allows time to correct errors if necessary.

MIPS score calculations depend on complete and timely submissions. Practices that plan ahead can reduce stress and improve their chances of a higher score.

How Expert Support Can Improve Your MIPS Performance

Many providers struggle with MIPS reporting because of its complexity. Working with a team of experts can simplify the process and help avoid common mistakes. Expert guidance ensures that providers select the best measures and report data accurately.

A dedicated MIPS reporting platform provides tools for real-time tracking and compliance. Providers can compare their performance to benchmarks and make necessary adjustments. Access to professional support increases confidence in the reporting process.

Using a structured MIPS reporting service reduces administrative burdens. Providers can focus on patient care while ensuring they meet all requirements. External support can be a valuable resource for improving overall MIPS scores.

Get Expert Support for MIPS Reporting

Improving your MIPS score requires tracking data, selecting the right measures, and reviewing feedback. Managing these tasks manually can be time-consuming and lead to errors. The right tools and support can make the process easier.

Patient360 offers expert guidance and reporting solutions to help providers optimize MIPS performance.