In November 2017, CMS released regulations that include accredited continuing medical education (CME) as an Improvement Activity under MIPS. As detailed in the final rule, CMS determines that “completion of an accredited performance improving medical education program” be included under the list of Improvement Activities under MIPS — one of the key policy changes proposed for the Quality Payment Program Year 2. CME should be included in the Improvement Activity measurement category, as these courses are among the most important ways in which doctors seek to improve their understanding of new treatments and therapies, improve beneficiary outcomes, and ultimately, improve their practice as a whole.
This initiative began in March of 2016, and included many meetings with other stakeholders including ACCME, AAFP, AMA, AOA, CMSS, ACEHP, and others. Earlier this year, the CME Coalition led 160 stakeholder comments in support of this proposal.
