Geriatrics / Gerontology MIPS Quality Measures and Improvement Activities – 2021

How to Select MIPS Quality Measures

Step 1 : Select At Least 1 Outcome Measure

For the MIPS Quality Performance Category, you must report at least one outcome measure. If no outcome measures are applicable to your patient population, then you must select at least one high-priority measure (see Step 2). The outcome measures you report count towards the six measure requirement for the Quality Performance Category. Reporting additional outcome measures beyond the required one will award two (2) bonus points to your Quality Performance Category Score.

Step 2 : Select Applicable High-Priority Measures

If you were able to select an outcome measure in Step 1, this step is optional. Non-outcome high-priority measures are worth one (1) bonus point for the Quality Performance Category. This makes it a smart idea to include as many outcome and/or high-priority measures as possible in your six Quality Performance Category Measures.

Step 3 : Make Sure You Have 6 Measures Selected

If you have not yet selected six measures and are aiming for a positive MIPS Payment Adjustment, select from the other recommended measures. If you report over six measures, CMS will calculate your MIPS Quality Performance Score using your top performing quality measures.


Recommended Quality Measures

Quality IdMeasure NameHigh PriorityMeasure TypeMeasure Descriptionhf:tax:specialty_measure_setshf:tax:collection_types
005Heart Failure (HF): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) or Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI) Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)noProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with a current or prior left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% who were prescribed ACE inhibitor or ARB or ARNI therapy either within a 12-month period when seen in the outpatient setting OR at each hospital dischargeDetails
006Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Antiplatelet TherapynoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) seen within a 12 month period who were prescribed aspirin or clopidogrelDetails
007Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Beta-Blocker Therapy – Prior Myocardial Infarction (MI) or Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVEF < 40%)noProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease seen within a 12 month period who also have a prior MI or a current or prior LVEF < 40% who were prescribed beta-blocker therapy.Details
008Heart Failure (HF): Beta-Blocker Therapy for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)noProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with a current or prior left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40% who were prescribed beta-blocker therapy either within a 12-month period when seen in the outpatient setting OR at each hospital dischargeDetails
039Screening for Osteoporosis for Women Aged 65-85 Years of AgenoProcessPercentage of female patients aged 65-85 years of age who ever had a central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to check for osteoporosisDetails
047Advance Care PlanyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 65 years and older who have an advance care plan or surrogate decision maker documented in the medical record or documentation in the medical record that an advance care plan was discussed but the patient did not wish or was not able to name a surrogate decision maker or provide an advance care planDetails
048Urinary Incontinence: Assessment of Presence or Absence of Urinary Incontinence in Women Aged 65 Years and OldernoProcessPercentage of female patients aged 65 years and older who were assessed for the presence or absence of urinary incontinence within 12 monthsDetails
050Urinary Incontinence: Plan of Care for Urinary Incontinence in Women Aged 65 Years and OlderyesProcessPercentage of female patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of urinary incontinence with a documented plan of care for urinary incontinence at least once within 12 monthsDetails
001Diabetes: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Poor Control (>9%)yeseCQM/CQMPercentage of patients 18-75 years of age with diabetes who had hemoglobin A1c > 9.0% during the measurement period.Details
117Diabetes: Eye ExamnoProcessPercentage of patients 18-75 years of age with diabetes and an active diagnosis of retinopathy overlapping the measurement period who had a retinal or dilated eye exam by an eye care professional during the measurement period or diabetics with no diagnosis of retinopathy overlapping the measurement period who had a retinal or dilated eye exam by an eye care professional during the measurement period or in the 12 months prior to the measurement period.Details
134Preventive Care and Screening: Screening for Depression and Follow-Up PlannoeCQM/CQMPercentage of patients aged 12 years and older screened for depression on the date of the encounter using an age appropriate standardized depression screening tool AND if positive, a follow-up plan is documented on the date of the positive screenDetails
130Documentation of Current Medications in the Medical RecordyesProcessPercentage of visits for patients aged 18 years and older for which the eligible professional or eligible clinician attests to documenting a list of current medications using all immediate resources available on the date of the encounter. This list must include ALL known prescriptions, over-the-counters, herbals, and vitamin/mineral/dietary (nutritional) supplements AND must contain the medications' name, dosage, frequency and route of administrationDetails
128Preventive Care and Screening: Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening and Follow-Up PlannoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a BMI documented during the current encounter or during the previous twelve months AND with a BMI outside of normal parameters, a follow-up plan is documented during the encounter or during the previous twelve months of the current encounter

Normal Parameters: Age 18 years and older BMI => 18.5 and < 25 kg/m2
Details
127Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetic Foot and Ankle Care, Ulcer Prevention – Evaluation of FootwearnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who were evaluated for proper footwear and sizingDetails
126Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetic Foot and Ankle Care, Peripheral Neuropathy – Neurological EvaluationnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who had a neurological examination of their lower extremities within 12 monthsDetails
119Diabetes: Medical Attention for NephropathynoProcessThe percentage of patients 18-75 years of age with diabetes who had a nephropathy screening test or evidence of nephropathy during the measurement period.Details
118Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Therapy - Diabetes or Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVEF < 40%)noProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease seen within a 12 month period who also have diabetes OR a current or prior Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) < 40% who were prescribed ACE inhibitor or ARB therapyDetails
116Avoidance of Antibiotic Treatment in Adults With Acute BronchitisyesProcessThe percentage of adults 18–64 years of age with a diagnosis of acute bronchitis who were not prescribed or dispensed an antibiotic prescriptionDetails
113Colorectal Cancer ScreeningnoProcessPercentage of patients 50-75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer.Details
112Breast Cancer ScreeningnoProcessPercentage of women 50 - 74 years of age who had a mammogram to screen for breast cancer in the 27 months prior to the end of the measurement period.Details
111Pneumococcal Vaccination Status for Older AdultsnoProcessPercentage of patients 65 years of age and older who have ever received a pneumococcal vaccineDetails
110Preventive Care and Screening: Influenza ImmunizationnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 6 months and older seen for a visit between October 1 and March 31 who received an influenza immunization OR who reported previous receipt of an influenza immunizationDetails
093Acute Otitis Externa (AOE): Systemic Antimicrobial Therapy – Avoidance of Inappropriate UseyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of AOE who were not prescribed systemic antimicrobial therapyDetails
154Falls: Risk AssessmentyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls that had a risk assessment for falls completed within 12 monthsDetails
155Falls: Plan of CareyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a history of falls that had a plan of care for falls documented within 12 monthsDetails
178Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Functional Status AssessmentnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for whom a functional status assessment was performed at least once within 12 months.Details
181Elder Maltreatment Screen and Follow-Up PlanyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 65 years and older with a documented elder maltreatment screen using an Elder Maltreatment Screening tool on the date of encounter AND a documented follow-up plan on the date of the positive screenDetails
185Colonoscopy Interval for Patients with a History of Adenomatous Polyps– Avoidance of Inappropriate UseyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older receiving a surveillance colonoscopy, with a history of a prior adenomatous polyp(s) in previous colonoscopy findings, which had an interval of 3 or more years since their last colonoscopyDetails
205HIV/AIDS: Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and SyphilisnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 13 years and older with a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS for whom chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis screenings were performed at least once since the diagnosis of HIV infectionDetails
236Controlling High Blood PressureyeseCQM/CQMPercentage of patients 18 - 85 years of age who had a diagnosis of hypertension overlapping the measurement period and whose most recent blood pressure was adequately controlled (< 140/90 mmHg) during the measurement period.Details
243Cardiac Rehabilitation Patient Referral from an Outpatient SettingyesProcessPercentage of patients evaluated in an outpatient setting who within the previous 12 months have experienced an acute myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), cardiac valve surgery, or cardiac transplantation, or who have chronic stable angina (CSA) and have not already participated in an early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention (CR) program for the qualifying event/diagnosis who were referred to a CR programDetails
238Use of High-Risk Medications in the ElderlyyesProcessPercentage of patients 65 years of age and older who were ordered high-risk medications. Two rates are submitted. 1) Percentage of patients who were ordered at least one high-risk medication 2) Percentage of patients who were ordered at least two of the same high-risk medicationDetails
268Epilepsy: Counseling for Women of Childbearing Potential with EpilepsynoProcessAll female patients of childbearing potential (12 - 44 years old) diagnosed with epilepsy who were counseled or referred for counseling for how epilepsy and its treatment may affect contraception OR pregnancy at least once a yearDetails
275Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Assessment of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Status Before Initiating Anti-TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) TherapynoProcessPercentage of patients with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who had Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) status assessed and results interpreted prior to initiating anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) therapyDetails
282Dementia: Functional Status AssessmentnoProcessPercentage of patients with dementia for whom an assessment of functional status* was performed at least once in the last 12 monthsDetails
283Dementia Associated Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms Screening and ManagementnoProcessPercentage of patients with dementia for whom there was a documented screening for behavioral and psychiatric symptoms, including depression, and for whom, if symptoms screening was positive, there was also documentation of recommendations for management in the last 12 monthsDetails
286Dementia: Safety Concern Screening and Follow-Up for Patients with DementiayesProcessPercentage of patients with dementia or their caregiver(s) for whom there was a documented safety concerns screening in two domains of risk: 1) dangerousness to self or others and 2) environmental risks; and if safety concerns screening was positive in the last 12 months, there was documentation of mitigation recommendations, including but not limited to referral to other resourcesDetails
288Dementia: Education and Support of Caregivers for Patients with DementiayesProcessPercentage of patients with dementia whose caregiver(s) were provided with education on dementia disease management and health behavior changes AND were referred to additional resources for support in the last 12 monthsDetails
317Preventive Care and Screening: Screening for High Blood Pressure and Follow-Up DocumentednoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older seen during the reporting period who were screened for high blood pressure AND a recommended follow-up plan is documented based on the current blood pressure (BP) reading as indicatedDetails
320Appropriate Follow-Up Interval for Normal Colonoscopy in Average Risk PatientsyesProcessPercentage of patients aged 50 to 75 years of age receiving a screening colonoscopy without biopsy or polypectomywho had a recommended follow-up interval of at least 10 years for repeat colonoscopy documented in their colonoscopy reportDetails
326Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter: Chronic Anticoagulation TherapynoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter who were prescribed warfarin OR another FDA-approved oral anticoagulant drug for the prevention of thromboembolism during the measurement periodDetails
331Adult Sinusitis: Antibiotic Prescribed for Acute Viral Sinusitis (Overuse)yesProcessPercentage of patients, aged 18 years and older, with a diagnosis of acute viral sinusitis who were prescribed an antibiotic within 10 days after onset of symptomsDetails
332Adult Sinusitis: Appropriate Choice of Antibiotic: Amoxicillin With or Without Clavulanate Prescribed for Patients with Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (Appropriate Use)yesProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of acute bacterial sinusitis that were prescribed amoxicillin, with or without clavulanate, as a first line antibiotic at the time of diagnosisDetails
342Pain Brought Under Control Within 48 HoursyesOutcomePatients aged 18 and older who report being uncomfortable because of pain at the initial assessment (after admission to palliative care services) who report pain was brought to a comfortable level within 48 hoursDetails
370Depression Remission at Twelve MonthsyesOutcomeThe percentage of adolescent patients 12 to 17 years of age and adult patients 18 years of age or older with major depression or dysthymia who reached remission 12 months (+/- 60 days) after an index event date.Details
337Psoriasis: Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention for Patients with Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis on a Biological Immune Response ModifiernoProcessPercentage of patients, regardless of age, with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis on a biological immune response modifier whose providers are ensuring active tuberculosis prevention either through negative standard tuberculosis screening tests or are reviewing the patient’s history to determine if they have had appropriate management for a recent or prior positive testDetails
386Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patient Care PreferencesyesProcessPercentage of patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) who were offered assistance in planning for end of life issues (e.g. advance directives, invasive ventilation, hospice) at least once annuallyDetails
387Annual Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Screening for Patients who are Active Injection Drug UsersnoProcessPercentage of patients, regardless of age, who are active injection drug users who received screening for HCV infection within the 12-month reporting periodDetails
391Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH)yesProcessThe percentage of discharges for patients 6 years of age and older who were hospitalized for treatment of selected mental illness or intentional self-harm diagnoses and who had a follow-up visit with a mental health practitioner.Details
398Optimal Asthma ControlyesOutcomeComposite measure of the percentage of pediatric and adult patients whose asthma is well-controlled as demonstrated by one of three age appropriate patient reported outcome tools and not at risk for exacerbationDetails
400One-Time Screening for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) for Patients at RisknoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with one or more of the following: a history of injection drug use, receipt of a blood transfusion prior to 1992, receiving maintenance hemodialysis, OR birthdate in the years 1945-1965 who received one-time screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionDetails
401Hepatitis C: Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in Patients with CirrhosisnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C cirrhosis who underwent imaging with either ultrasound, contrast enhanced CT or MRI for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at least once within the 12 month submission periodDetails
410Psoriasis: Clinical Response to Systemic MedicationsyesOutcomePercentage of psoriasis vulgaris patients receiving systemic therapy who meet minimal physician-or patient- reported disease activity levels. It is implied that establishment and maintenance of an established minimum level of disease control as measured by physician-and/or patient-reported outcomes will increase patient satisfaction with and adherence to treatmentDetails
418Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a FracturenoProcessThe percentage of women age 50-85 who suffered a fracture in the six months prior to the performance period through June 30 of the performance period and who either had a bone mineral density test or received a prescription for a drug to treat osteoporosis in the six months after the fracture.Details
431Preventive Care and Screening: Unhealthy Alcohol Use: Screening & Brief CounselingnoProcessPercentage of patients aged 18 years and older who were screened for unhealthy alcohol use using a systematic screening method at least once within the last 24 months AND who received brief counseling if identified as an unhealthy alcohol userDetails
438Statin Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular DiseasenoProcessPercentage of the following patients - all considered at high risk of cardiovascular events - who were prescribed or were on statin therapy during the performance period.Details
439Age Appropriate Screening ColonoscopyyesEfficiencyThe percentage of patients greater than 85 years of age who received a screening colonoscopy from January 1 to December 31Details
455Percentage of Patients Who Died from Cancer Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Last 30 Days of Life (lower score – better)yesOutcomePercentage of patients who died from cancer admitted to the ICU in the last 30 days of life.Details

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How to Select MIPS Improvement Activities

Step 1 : Determine how many points are needed for successful reporting

  • 40 points: The standard number of required points and the maximum score for this Performance Category.
  • 20 points: For small or rural practices, HPSAs, or non-patient facing clinicians/groups.
  • 0 points: Certified Patient Centered Medical Homes receive full credit. A Patient Centered Medical Home must be attested to and will not automatically be classified by CMS as such.

Step 2 : Select Improvement Activities

High-weighted activities are worth 20 points, while medium-weight activities are worth 10 points. Participants can select any combination of activities to meet the requirement.


Recommended Improvement Activities

Activity IdActivity NameActivity WeightingActivity Description
IA_EPA_3Collection and use of patient experience and satisfaction data on accessMediumCollection of patient experience and satisfaction data on access to care and development of an improvement plan, such as outlining steps for improving communications with patients to help understanding of urgent access needs.Details
IA_CC_2-2021Implementation of improvements that contribute to more timely communication of test resultsMediumTimely communication of test results defined as timely identification of abnormal test results with timely follow-up.Details
IA_CC_8Implementation of documentation improvements for practice/process improvementsMediumImplementation of practices/processes that document care coordination activities (e.g., a documented care coordination encounter that tracks all clinical staff involved and communications from date patient is scheduled for outpatient procedure through day of procedure).Details
IA_BE_14Engage Patients and Families to Guide Improvement in the System of CareHighEngage patients and families to guide improvement in the system of care by leveraging digital tools for ongoing guidance and assessments outside the encounter, including the collection and use of patient data for return-to-work and patient quality of life improvement. Platforms and devices that collect patient-generated health data (PGHD) must do so with an active feedback loop, either providing PGHD in real or near-real time to the care team, or generating clinically endorsed real or near-real time automated feedback to the patient, including patient reported outcomes (PROs). Examples include patient engagement and outcomes tracking platforms, cellular or web-enabled bi-directional systems, and other devices that transmit clinically valid objective and subjective data back to care teams. Because many consumer-grade devices capture PGHD (for example, wellness devices), platforms or devices eligible for this improvement activity must be, at a minimum, endorsed and offered clinically by care teams to patients to automatically send ongoing guidance (one way). Platforms and devices that additionally collect PGHD must do so with an active feedback loop, either providing PGHD in real or near-real time to the care team, or generating clinically endorsed real or near-real time automated feedback to the patient (e.g. automated patient-facing instructions based on glucometer readings). Therefore, unlike passive platforms or devices that may collect but do not transmit PGHD in real or near-real time to clinical care teams, active devices and platforms can inform the patient or the clinical care team in a timely manner of important parameters regarding a patient’s status, adherence, comprehension, and indicators of clinical concern.Details
IA_AHE_1Engagement of New Medicaid Patients and Follow-upHighSeeing new and follow-up Medicaid patients in a timely manner, including individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. A timely manner is defined as within 10 business days for this activity.Details

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