CMS unveils the explore measures tool for MIPS 2018

Do your clinicians still need help selecting merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) measures because you didn't get a copy of 2018 MIPS Answers at the start of the year? Then you'll be relieved to know that CMS released the 2018 version of its explore measures tool. You can use the tool to narrow down the lists of measures for quality, improvement activities and promoting interoperability (formerly known as advancing care information).

 

The tool should look familiar to anyone who used it last year, but CMS is still making improvements. At some point this summer the agency — or the contractor that handles MIPS — will link each quality measure to its respective specifications and benchmarks, so you can get all of the information about a measure in a few clicks. The tool will also link promoting interoperability measures to their specifications.

 

Take a look at the updated 2017 version of the tool to see what the final version will look like, but keep in mind that information is out of date and shouldn't be used for this year's measures. Members of the DecisionHealth editorial team discovered dozens of changes in each MIPS category while working on the 2018 MIPS Answers book. Until the update is complete, your best bet is to use the tool to select a set of measures and then go to the Quality Payment Program resource library to check for details.