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Healthcare quality reporting is evolving, and accountable care organizations (ACOs) are at the forefront of this change. In 2025, ACOs will be required to shift from traditional quality reporting via the CMS Web Interface to electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs), marking a significant transition in their reporting process.
This transformation aims to enhance patient care quality and better align ACO reporting with the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Reporting via eCQM is optional in 2023 and 2024, but it becomes mandatory in 2025. Several ACOs have already started reporting via eCQM with positive results. These organizations received concessions from CMS to serve as early adopters and test the system.
For example, one large ACO in the Southeast started reporting via eCQM in 2020 across multiple provider EHRs. According to the ACO, “The concessions from CMS have been financially beneficial while also giving us time to expand reporting and continually improve our process.” But other ACOs are only just getting started.
This article shares four best practices to consider as organizations prepare internal teams, update information systems, and analyze their quality data to ensure optimal quality reporting under eCQM.