MIPS 2018 Quality Measure Benchmarks

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Posted By: Roberta Mullin January 31, 2018

By Anshu Jindal, COO, MyMipsScore
Twitter: @MyMipsScore

In a previous blog, we had discussed some of the recent updates announced by CMS for MIPS. One of those updates was the release of Quality benchmarks for 2018.

There are 4 key things you need to understand about Quality benchmarks:

1. What Are The Data Sources For These Benchmarks?
Benchmarks for Quality measures in 2018 are based on actual performance data from performance year 2016 which was submitted to the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) in 2017 (except for CMS Web Interface and CAHPS for MIPS survey). PQRS data is being used to calculate the transition benchmarks till data from MIPS performance years for adequate historical benchmark determination becomes available in 2019.

  • For CMS Web Interface, the benchmarks from the Medicare Shared Savings Program will be used.
  • We have to wait a little longer for CAHPS for MIPS 2018 benchmarks though. A revised CAHPS survey is being implemented in 2018 and thus the benchmarks will be created based on 2018 data for each of the CAHPS Summary Survey Measures (SSM).
  • 2018 Benchmark for the All Cause Hospital Readmission (ACR) Measure will be created using the 2016 data for PQRS / Value Modifier Program and will be available in early 2018 according to CMS.

2. Which Data Is Included?
For establishing benchmarks that are fair and applicable to MIPS, the PQRS data was filtered by 2018 MIPS eligibility criteria and the volume threshold (more than $90,000 in Medicare Part B allowed charges and provided care for more than 200 Medicare Part-B enrolled beneficiaries). Only the data for clinicians and groups who satisfied both the aspects for inclusion in 2018 MIPS performance year was used for the historical benchmark determination. Comparable data from the Alternative Payment Models (APMs) was also used when feasible.

3. When Is A Benchmark Created?
If at least 20 clinicians or groups who satisfied the inclusion criteria reported on a measure, met the case minimum of 20 and the data completeness of 60%, and had performance rate greater than 0% (or less than 100% for an inverse measure) a benchmark was created for that measure.

4. What Happens When There Is No Historical Data?
In the absence of historical benchmark for a measure (e.g. new QCDR measures, Revised CAHPS for MIPS), CMS will try to calculate a benchmark based on 2018 performance data, provided all the requisites for benchmark creation mentioned above are met.

Benchmarks Impact the Quality Score
Although there are some significant changes for Quality scoring in 2018, the logic for benchmark calculation, decile distribution, and how points are earned basically remains the same as that of 2017.

  • 3-10 points (achievement points) can be earned for each measure provided the data completeness of 60%, case minimum of 20 (except all-cause hospital readmission measure), and minimum performance rate of >1 are met. Bonus points can be in earned in addition to the achievement points whenever applicable.
  • Separate Benchmark for Each Submission Method – The Quality measures can be submitted via Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Qualified Registries, Qualified Clinical Data Registries (QCDRs), Claims, CMS Web Interface, and CAHPS for MIPS Survey submission methods. Benchmark for each measure is uniquely determined for each submission method through which it can be submitted. So, it is quite possible that a measure that is available to report via multiple submission methods has a benchmark for one submission method, but not for the other. Pay close attention. The importance of submission methods cannot be emphasized enough when it comes to Quality score calculation.

It is crucial to understand the difference between the submission methods before picking one. Just like in 2017, only one submission method will be allowed for the Quality category. This is one of the most important aspects about the Quality measure benchmarks and scoring. We will be looking at this in greater detail during our upcoming webinar.

Some Unique Aspects of Quality Measure Benchmarks

1. Benchmarks With Less Than 10 Deciles And Topped-Out Measures
When the historical performance rate is so high and unvarying for a measure that it is impossible to make meaningful distinctions in performance improvement by decile, such measure is considered topped-out. More on Topped-Out Measures

There are some measures that don’t have historical benchmarks for all the deciles. This happens when about 10% – 60% clinicians perform at the maximum achievable performance rate. Although these measures are not topped out yet, but they are close. Practices planning to submit such measures must do so while being aware of this fact, and not because they have been submitting those measures under previous quality programs.

2. Max Score Capped At 7 Points
Some topped-out measures are being phased out of MIPS over a period of four years. For 2018, CMS has identified six such measures. The maximum points for these six measures would be capped at 7 points. In other words, clinicians reporting these measures will not be able to earn 10 points on these measures even at 100% performance rate and meeting the data completeness and case minimum requirements. These measures are:

  1. Perioperative Care: Selection of Prophylactic Antibiotic-First or Second Generation Cephalosporin (Quality Measure ID: 21)
  2. Melanoma: Overutilization of Imaging Studies in Melanoma (Quality Measure ID: 224)
  3. Perioperative Care: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prophylaxis (When Indicated in ALL Patients) (Quality Measure ID: 23)
  4. Image Confirmation of Successful Excision of Image-Localized Breast Lesion (Quality Measure ID: 262)
  5. Optimizing Patient Exposure to Ionizing Radiation: Utilization of a Standardized Nomenclature for Computerized Tomography (CT) Imaging Description (Quality Measure ID: 359)
  6. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Inhaled Bronchodilator Therapy (Quality Measure ID: 52)

To arrive at Quality performance category scoring, the benchmarks need to be evaluated in conjunction with the submission method, measure bonus criteria (Outcome, Priority, Patient Experience), the end-to-end reporting, the case minimum, the data completeness, and the quality performance improvement score.

This article was originally published on MyMipsScore and is republished here with permission.