Promoting interoperability is one of the categories you are scored on in MIPS. Promoting interoperability revolves around utilizing our EHR to electronically communicate with other providers and with patients. While it can be one of the more difficult aspects of MIPS to score well on, it is straightforward. You will do well if you do it often and stay on top of it.
All small practices (15 doctors or less) are automatically exempt from Promoting Interoperability. You do not have to apply for the exemption. As long as you do not report interoperability data, you will be granted the exemption, and the MIPS score will be reweighted. Many practices will get a higher score if they choose to accept the automatic exemption.
Numerators and Denominators
E-prescribing (worth up to 10 points) – look at how many prescriptions you wrote (denominator) and how many prescriptions you prescribed electronically (numerator). If you have written less than 100 permissible prescriptions, you can claim an exemption for e-prescribing. When a portion of promoting interoperability has an exclusion, the points are re-weighted.
Provide Patients Electronic Access to Their Health Information (worth up to 40 points) – this is providing your patients access to the portal so they can download their health information. The numerator is the number of patients able to access the portal. The denominator is the number of patients. Patients don’t need to access the portal; you just need to provide them access. There is not an exemption available for this measure.
Support Electronic Referral Loops by Receiving and Reconciling Health Information (worth up to 20 points) – this component requires you to receive electronic referrals and requires you to respond to the referral. The numerator is how many referrals you deal with electronically. The denominator is how many referrals you receive. It can be difficult to score well on this component. You need to ensure that you can receive referrals electronically and that your EHR can communicate with other doctors’ EHRs. If you receive less than 100 transitions of care or referrals, you can claim an exemption for Support Electronic Referral Loops by Receiving and Reconciling Health Information. When a portion of promoting interoperability has an exclusion, the points are re-weighted.
Support Electronic Referral Loops by Sending Health Information (worth up to 20 points) – requires you to use your EHR to make sure when you have a referral and see a patient, you respond to the provider. The numerator is how many times you respond electronically. The denominator is the number of referrals you receive. If you send less than 100 transitions of care or referrals, you can claim an exemption for Support Electronic Referral Loops by Sending Health Information. When a portion of promoting interoperability has an exclusion, the points are re-weighted.
Bidirectional Health Exchange – if you participate in Bidirectional Health Exchange, it can replace Support Electronic Referral Loops by Receiving and Reconciling Health Information and Support Electronic Referral Loops by Sending Health Information. To participate, you have to be connected to bidirectional health exchange, which your EHR may or may not support.
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