Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
The Alternative Payment Model Pathway to Radiologists' Success in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System
Andrew B Rosenkrantz1, Richard Duszak2, Lauren P Golding3
1Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York.
Purpose:
To assess radiologists' performance in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), with attention to the impact of the novel MIPS-Alternative Payment Models (APMs) participation option created under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
Methods:
Data regarding radiologists' 2017 MIPS performance was extracted from the Physician Compare 2017 Individual EC Public Reporting-overall MIPS Performance data set, and additional physician characteristics were extracted from multiple CMS data sets.
Results:
Among 20,956 MIPS-participating radiologists, 16.6% participated using individual reporting, 68.9% group reporting, and 13.4% APM reporting. Average Quality scores were 59.7 84.0, and 92.5, respectively. The fractions of radiologists scored in Advancing Care Information were 4.1%, 27.0%, and 100.0%. When scored, average scores in this category were 61.9, 94.6, and 80.9. A total of 27.7% and 42.7% of interventional radiologists were scored in this category using individual and group reporting, respectively. However, general radiologists and subspecialists other than interventional radiologists were rarely (<5%) scored. Average scores in Improvement Activities were 37.5, 92.5, and 100.0 for individual reporting, group reporting, and APM reporting, respectively. Average Final Scores were 56.5, 85.6, and 90.6. The better performance of APM versus group reporting was most apparent for smaller practices (ie, for practice sizes ≤15, average Final Score of 84.1 for APM versus 75.0 for group reporting).
Conclusion:
Although radiologists perform much better in MIPS using group versus individual reporting, performance improves even further through APM reporting, particularly for smaller practices. Radiologists seeking better performance under MIPS should carefully explore APM opportunities.
Insights
Radiologists performing better in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) can achieve higher scores through Alternative Payment Models (APMs), especially in smaller practices. Exploring APM options is recommended for improved MIPS performance.
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Medical Economics
- Radiology Practice Management
Background:
- The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act introduced the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) to reform physician payment.
- Alternative Payment Models (APMs) offer a participation option within MIPS, potentially impacting performance.
- Understanding how different MIPS reporting pathways affect radiologist performance is crucial for practice optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate radiologist performance within the MIPS framework.
- To specifically analyze the impact of participating in MIPS-Alternative Payment Models (APMs) on performance scores.
- To compare performance across individual, group, and APM reporting mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 2017 MIPS performance data from the Physician Compare database.
- Extracted additional physician characteristics from multiple Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) datasets.
- Analyzed performance metrics including Quality, Advancing Care Information, and Improvement Activities scores.
Main Results:
- Radiologists participating via APMs achieved higher average Quality (92.5) and Improvement Activities (100.0) scores compared to group (84.0, 92.5) and individual (59.7, 37.5) reporting.
- APM reporting also showed higher average Final Scores (90.6) versus group (85.6) and individual (56.5) reporting.
- The performance advantage of APM over group reporting was more pronounced in smaller practices (≤15 physicians).
Conclusions:
- Radiologist performance in MIPS significantly improves with group reporting over individual reporting.
- Participation in APMs further enhances MIPS performance, particularly for smaller radiology practices.
- Radiologists should consider APM participation to optimize their MIPS outcomes.
More Related Videos
04:09Predicting Treatment Response to Image-Guided Therapies Using Machine Learning: An Example for Trans-Arterial Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: October 10, 2018
05:33Introduction of an Integrated Pathology Image Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Reporting System
Published on: July 11, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic...
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...