MIPS 2020: Key Takeaways

Last week, CMS released the final rule for the changes to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2020. Changes to the program next year are minimal, but are still important to note as you head into performance year 4.

Performance Category Weights

There will be no change to the performance category weights in MIPS performance year 2020.

Payment Adjustment

For the 2020 performance period, the performance threshold (maximum number of points needed to avoid a negative payment adjustment) will increase from 30 to 45 points. The additional performance threshold for exceptional performance will increase from 75 points to 85.

The maximum positive payment adjustment for performance year 2020 will be increased to 9%, plus additional adjustments for exceptional performance. The maximum negative payment adjustment will be -9%.

Quality Performance Category

Data completeness for performance year 2020 will increase from 60% to 70%. This means you must report on at least 70% of your total patients who meet the measure’s denominator criteria in order to receive maximum points for the measure.

Improvement Activities Category

The Improvement Activities inventory has been updated for MIPS performance year 2020.

MIPS Year 4 Changes to Improvement Activities
Added	IA_BE_25: Drug Cost Transparency IA_CC_18: Tracking of clinician’s relationship to and responsibility for a patient by reporting MACRA patient relationship codes
Modified	IA_PSPA_28: Completion of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program IA_PM_2: Anticoagulant Management Improvements IA_EPA_4: Additional improvements in access as a result of QIN/QIO TA IA_PSPA_19: Implementation of formal quality improvement methods, practice changes, or other practice improvement processes IA_BE_7: Participation in a QCDR, that promotes use of patient engagement tools IA_PSPA_7: Use of QCDR data for ongoing practice assessment and improvements IA_BMH_10: Completion of Collaborative Care Management Training Program
Removed	IA_PM_1: Participation in Systematic Anticoagulation Program IA_CC_3: Implementation of additional activity as a result of TA for improving care coordination IA_PSPA_14: Participation in Quality Improvement Initiatives IA_PSPA_5: Annual Registration in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program IA_PSPA_24: Initiate CDC Training on Antibiotic Stewardship IA_BMH_3: Unhealthy alcohol use IA_BE_11: Participation in a QCDR, that promotes use of processes and tools that engage patients for adherence to treatment plan IA_BE_2: Use of QCDR to support clinical decision making IA_BE_9: Use of QCDR patient experience data to inform and advance improvements in beneficiary IA_BE_10: Participation in a QCDR, that promotes implementation of patient self-action plans IA_CC_6: Use of QCDR to promote standard practices, tools and processes in practice for improvement in care coordination IA_AHE_4: Leveraging a QCDR for use of standard questionnaires IA_AHE_2: Leveraging a QCDR to standardize processes for screening IA_PM_10: Use of QCDR data for quality improvement such as comparative analysis reports across patient populations IA_CC_4: TCPI Participation

Previously, a group or virtual group could attest to an improvement activity if at least one clinician in the group participated in the activity. In 2020, in order for a group or virtual group to attest to an improvement activity, at least 50% of the clinicians in the group or virtual group must perform the same activity during any continuous 90-day period in the performance year.

CMS has also made a technical correction to the definition of ‘Rural Area’ that will not change how rural clinicians are identified.

Also modified are the requirements for patient-centered medical home (PCMH) designation. CMS has removed specific examples of entity names of accreditation organizations in order to remove barriers to designation.

Promoting Interoperability

Currently, hospital-based clinicians who choose to report as a group or virtual group are eligible for reweighting when 100% of the MIPS-eligible clinicians in the group meet the definition of a hospital-based MIPS eligible clinician. In the next performance year, these clinicians are eligible for reweighting when more than 75% of the NPIs in the group or virtual group meet the definition of a hospital-based MIPS eligible clinician.

MIPS Performance Year 2021

Although there are no major changes to the program for 2020, bigger changes are expected in performance year 2021. Subscribe to our MIPS newsletter to stay up to date on these future changes.

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