Figure 2. Association Between Adjusted MIPS Scores and Physician Characteristics Among Physicians With Patients of High Social Risk.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores may range from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better performance across 3 domains: advancing care information, improvement activities, and quality. The scores reflect a weighted average of performance across those domains, along with additional bonuses and adjustments. “High social risk” corresponds to physicians whose proportion of dually eligible patients was in the top quintile among MIPS-participating physicians. Results obtained from ordinary least-squares regression of MIPS composite scores on listed covariates, adjusted for patient clinical risk (mean Hierarchical Condition Category score).

^aAdditional details on the specific specialties included within each specialty category may be found in the documentation for the Medicare Data on Provider Practice and Specialty file.¹⁵

^bYears in practice indicates years since completion of medical school.

^cNumber of beneficiaries indicates the number of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries treated by a given physician.

^dSource indicates the method by which a physician achieved their MIPS score. Other indicates that the score was based on a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decision.

^eRural indicates whether a physician’s practice zip code was in a rural area, as defined by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.