The sands are shifting, as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) becomes closer to reality. With some preparation and planning, your ENT practice can succeed and even thrive in this new environment.
By focusing on several key elements you can raise your Composite Performance Scores (CPS), the path to financial rewards under MIPS.
These annual CPS scores are based on four categories: Quality, which will account for 50% of the score, Advancing Care Information (formerly Meaningful Use), 25%; Clinical Practice Improvement Activities (15%; and Cost/Resource Use (10%). Scores will start being assigned in 2019 based on data reported in 2017.
Data is at the heart of every interaction and every transaction. Your practice must become more effective in collecting and recording data. Also, you need to understand your cost centers.
Start preparing now
Let’s look at precisely where ENT specialists should focus their efforts in preparing for MIPS:
1 – Increase patient access
This means keeping patients out of emergency rooms – and seeing them in your ENT clinic on evenings and weekends, as well as same-day appointments. Your practice has to be available when needed. Like many physicians, you may be already working that way. That’s the new reality.
2 – Value your patients
Create a stronger connection with your patients. Bring them into a feeling of “team.” Let them know they are important to you. Patient surveys are very helpful. A patient advisory group can also be valuable. Act on patient feedback. This is imperative.
3 – Empower your staff
Your staff is on the front lines. They hear patient feedback. Empower your staff to make improvements. Let them know their advice is valuable. Your staff are your patient advocates.
4 – Hire a clinical nurse manager
In your ENT practice, a clinical nurse manager is critical to overall efficiency — patient registries, deadlines, and sick patient follow-up. A nurse manager can help keep patients out of the hospital or emergency department. That’s good for your scores.
5 – Make use of scribes
Scribes are a great asset in your time management. They reduce time you spend entering patient information into the EHR. If you record notes on paper forms, your scribe can enter them into the EHR. With a scribe, your “homework” disappears.
6 – Maximize resources
An additional revenue source will help your business survive. Look for opportunities to create additional revenue streams through in-house labs and similar ancillary services. Multiple revenue streams make good business sense.
Here’s another idea: Consider taking advantage of your state’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) initiative. There is potential for per-patient per-month fees. The salary of a clinical nurse manager may also be covered. This action has helped many small practices stay independent. Your ENT practice can survive, too, with these measures in place.
