The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is urging MIPS-eligible clinicians and groups to sign up for a new study to receive Clinical Practice Improvement Activities Credit.

CMS is conducting a Clinical Practice Improvement Activities (CPIA) Study, as outlined in the MACRA final rule. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31.

Clinicians and groups who are eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) that participate successfully in the study will receive full credit for the Improvement Activities performance category. Clinicians or groups that collect and submit quality measurement data to CMS are also encouraged to apply.

CMS says it is leading this study to examine clinical workflows and data collection methods using different submission systems, understand the challenges clinicians face when collecting and reporting quality data and make future recommendations for changes that will attempt to eliminate clinician burden, improve quality data collection and reporting and enhance clinical care.

Participants will have to meet the following requirements between January and December 2017:

  • Complete at least three survey questionnaires throughout the course of the study.
  • Participate in at least three focus groups.
  • Submit at least three clinician quality performance measures to CMS.

Visit the CMS website for more information. Completed applications should be submitted to CMSCPIAStudy@ketchum.com by Jan. 31.