In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the implementation of the MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs)—a framework intended to streamline the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) by connecting activities and measures across the four MIPS categories that are relevant to a specific specialty, condition, or population. The 2024 performance year is the second year MVPs are available as a voluntary MIPS participation pathway.
MVPs are composed of quality measures (including one outcome measure [or high-priority measure, if the outcome measure isn't applicable]), improvement activities, and cost measures relevant to the condition, specialty, or patient population. MVPs are also required to include a foundational layer made up of population health measures and the Promoting Interoperability performance category measures. While MVPs, at least for the foreseeable future, will continue to rely on current flawed MIPS policies that limit meaningful participation among surgeons, this pathway does include a slightly reduced reporting burden compared to traditional MIPS. In future years, CMS will propose additional MVPs.
Performance Year 2024 MIPS Value Pathways
- Advancing Rheumatology Patient Care
- Coordinating Stroke Care to Promote Prevention and Cultivate Positive Outcomes
- Advancing Care for Heart Disease
- Value in Primary Care
- Adopting Best Practices and Promoting Patient Safety with Emergency Medicine
- Improving Care for Lower Extremity Joint Repair
- Patient Safety and Support of Positive Experiences with Anesthesia
- Supportive Care for Neurodegenerative Conditions
- Optimal Care for Patients with Episodic Neurological Conditions
- Optimal Care for Kidney Health
- Advancing Cancer Care
- Rehabilitative Support for Musculoskeletal Care
- Quality Care in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
- Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Disorders Including Hepatitis C and HIV
- Quality Care for the Treatment of Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders
- Focusing on Women’s Health
Who can report an MVP?
MVPs can be reported by individual MIPS eligible clinicians, single specialty groups (a group that consists of one specialty type based on Medicare Part B claims), multispecialty groups (a group that consists of two or more specialty types based on Medicare Part B claims), l, or an APM Entity. If a surgeon or their group elects to participate in an MVP in 2024, they are required to register their MVP selection in advance.
What are the reporting requirements for an MVP?
Quality Reporting Requirements
To complete the MVP reporting requirements for the quality performance category, you must:
- Select and report 4 quality measures from an MVP, including 1 outcome measure. If no outcome measure is available, you may report a high priority measure.
- The 4 required quality measures don’t include the required population health measures evaluated as part of the foundational layer.
Improvement Activities Requirements
To meet the requirements for the Improvement Activities performance category, you must:
- Report 2 medium-weighted improvement activities from the MVP; or
- Report 1 high-weighted improvement activity from the MVP; or
- Report the IA_PCMH (participation in a certified or recognized patient-centered medical home or comparable specialty practice) activity.
Cost Category Requirements
Medicare claims data are used to calculate cost measure performance, which means that there are no data submission requirements for this performance category. Each MVP includes cost measures that should be relevant and applicable to the MVP’s clinical specialty or medical condition.
Foundational Layer Reporting Requirements
The foundational layer of an MVP is made up of the Promoting Interoperability performance category and population health measures that are calculated through administrative claims. The components of the foundational layer apply to ALL MVPs regardless of clinical specialty or medical condition.
Promoting Interoperability Performance Category
The reporting requirements for Promoting Interoperability in MVPs are the same requirements as PI in traditional MIPS. Which means if you elect to report an MVP you must submit the same PI measures and attestations as those who report to traditional MIPS.
Population Health Measures
To complete the requirements for the population health measures, you must:
- Select 1 of the 2 available population health measures at the time of MVP registration.
- Measure 479: Hospital-Wide, 30-day, All-Cause Unplanned Readmission (HWR) Rate for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Groups
- Measure 484: Clinician and Clinician Group Risk-standardized Hospital Admission Rates for Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions
** Population health measures must be selected during MVP registration. The Population Health measures are calculated using administrative claims, you do not have to report any data for this measure. CMS will collect and calculate these data for you.
MVP Resources
CMS MIPS Value Pathways Website
