MIPS # 487 Screening for Social Drivers of Health
2025: no changes from 2024.
MEASURE DESCRIPTION
Percent of patients 18 years and older screened for food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, utility difficulties, and interpersonal safety.
Numerator
Number of patients 18 years and older screened once per performance period for food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, utility difficulties, and interpersonal safety.
Denominator
Number of patients 18 years and older with an encounter during the performance period
Exclusion/Exceptions
The patient declined screening.
Telehealth included: Yes
Relevance to Value Based Care
An estimated 20 percent of health outcomes are linked to medical care; the remaining 80 percent stem from socioeconomic, environmental and behavioral factors referred to as drivers of health (DOH) (Magnan, 2017). These factors such as homelessness, food insecurity, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV)–are linked to poorer health, disproportionately impact communities of color, and have escalated due to COVID-19. Research demonstrates that 66 percent of physician practices are screening for one or more of the 5 DOH domains specified in this measure (Fraze et al., 2019). A 2022 survey by the Physicians Foundation found that 65 percent of U.S. physicians believe that implementing DOH quality measures are important to improve health outcomes and to ensure high-quality and cost-efficient care (Physicians Foundation, 2022).
Scoring
1-8 points, 10 points for 100% performance rate.
RESOURCES