CMS Kills MIPS Facility-Based Scoring: What This Means for Hospitals

CMS will not offer MIPS facility-based scoring for the 2022 performance year. This decision surprises many, as CMS has been gradually suppressing measures in the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program for several years. The agency has confirmed that hospitals will not have facility-based scoring in the upcoming fiscal year. The announcement made by CMS last week states that CMS will not offer MIPS facility-based scoring because the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS)/Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Final Rule finalized the suppression of several measures in the Hospital VBP Program. But what does this mean for hospital facilities? Let's take a closer look.

First, it's essential to understand how facility-based scoring works. Under the system, each hospital was given a unique score that was then compared against the national average. This score was based on various factors, including patient satisfaction, readmissions, and length of stay. Hospitals that performed better than the national average would receive a higher score, while those that fell below the average would be given a lower score. This system often punished hospitals for things beyond their control, such as patients who were readmitted due to complications from their original condition.

Now that CMS has decided to do away with facility-based scoring, hospitals will no longer be judged against the national average. Instead, they will be judged against their peers. This means that hospitals will only be compared against other hospitals that serve a similar patient population. This change is paramount, and it could have a significant impact on the way hospitals operate.

One of the biggest changes will be how hospital staff members interact with patients. In the past, staff members may have been more focused on meeting national benchmarks and less concerned with providing individualized care. But now that hospitals will only be compared against their peers, they'll need to focus on providing the best possible care for every patient. This could lead to better outcomes and happier patients overall.

It's still too early to say precisely how this change will play out, but one thing is for sure: CMS's decision to do away with facility-based scoring is a significant change for the hospital industry. And it could have a lasting impact on the way hospitals provide care.

What do you think about this decision? Do you think it will lead to better patient care? Share your thoughts in the comments below. If your facility needs help understanding MIPS and how to get your best possible score, reach out to @RobinRoberts at Chirpy Bird Inc.