Penn State Health Medical Group Community Practice earns perfect MIPS score
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rated Penn State Health Medical Group’s community practice division 100 out of 100 points in its 2018 performance feedback report.
CMS’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) determines the percentage that physicians and physician groups are reimbursed for Medicare claims. The program examines quality, cost, improvement activities and interoperability (the ability to share data electronically).
“Our biggest improvements were in areas of cost and quality ― steering patients to quality, lower-cost providers and encouraging them to get their needed screenings,” said Vicky Martell, manager of quality initiatives and care measurement for the Medical Group’s community practice division.
“This is a true testament to everyone’s hard work,” said Janet Gundling, community practice division vice president.
Factors that helped increase the Medical Group’s MIPS score included:
- Expanding patient access by offering extended office hours
- Identifying opportunities for patient screenings or tests prior to a visit
- Giving patients an after-visit summary
- Using secure messaging to transmit patient health information
- Providing a patient portal to enable patients to communicate with their providers and make appointments
- Enhancing the electronic health record system to better capture data and allow it to be reportable
- Making a telehealth option available ― Penn State Health OnDemand
The MIPS report examined 13 community practices. The Medical Group’s academic practices and St. Joseph Medical Group’s practices were not included in the report because they are part of an Accountable Care Organization.
The Medical Group’s reimbursement rate for Medicare claims beginning Jan. 1, 2020, is 1.6%. That is lower than the current rate of 1.8% because many other participating clinicians throughout the U.S. also earned a high score.
If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email the Penn State College of Medicine web department.