July was UV Safety Month, and while dermatologists are on the front lines of skin health education and cancer prevention, they’re also navigating another complex demand: quality reporting under Medicare’s evolving programs.

As MIPS, MVPs, and alternative payment models (APMs) expand in scope and sophistication, dermatology practices must not only provide excellent care but prove it with accurate, measure-aligned data. Reporting success isn’t just regulatory - it’s financial, and in today’s environment, missteps can lead to avoidable penalties and lost revenue.

Dermatology's Role in Value-Based Care Dermatology once sat outside CMS's value-based care spotlight, but that’s quickly changed. With rising melanoma rates, chronic inflammatory skin conditions, and increasing reliance on outpatient biopsies and treatments, dermatologists are now expected to deliver and document care that is timely, evidence-based, and coordinated.

Key quality drivers include:

• Cancer surveillance and biopsy management
• Medication reconciliation and adherence
• Preventive screenings (e.g., tobacco use, depression)
• Care continuity and communication with PCPs

CMS expects this to be tracked (and reported) accurately.

Reporting Options Available to Dermatology Practices Dermatology providers typically participate through: 1. Traditional MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System): Providers earn a composite score based on: Quality (30%) Cost (30%) Improvement Activities (15%) Promoting Interoperability (25%) 2. MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs): Starting in 2023, MVPs offer a more specialty-focused track. While dermatology-specific MVPs are still evolving, related MVP bundles, such as “Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment” or "Chronic Disease Management", are expected to take shape in the coming years. 3. Alternative Payment Models (APMs): Participation through an ACO or clinically integrated network? Your dermatology group may be folded into APM Performance Pathway (APP) reporting through a group or entity-level submission.

Key Quality Measures for Dermatology Providers While measure selection may vary by patient population and volume, the following are among the most common CMS-endorsed measures for dermatology practices:

• Biopsy Follow-Up (Measure #265): Timely pathology result follow-up
• Tobacco Use: Screening and Intervention (Measure #226)
• Current Medications Documented in the Medical Record (Measure #130)
• Depression Screening and Follow-Up (Measure #134)
• Coordination of Care for Patients with Specific Diagnoses (Measure #374)
• Preventive Care and Screening: BMI Screening and Follow-Up (Measure #128)

Five Steps to Maximize Reporting Success 1. Choose High-Frequency, High-Impact Measures Select quality measures that are relevant to your specialty and align closely with your most common workflows. Prioritize those with reliable documentation opportunities and consistent patient eligibility to increase your scoring potential. 2. Standardize Clinical Documentation Variation in how providers document care can lead to missed numerator captures. Use templated notes, clear workflows, and staff training to ensure documentation supports each measure’s requirements. 3. Track Performance Monthly, Not Just Annually Continuous performance monitoring allows for early course correction. Monthly or quarterly reviews can help identify underperformance trends and operational gaps long before submission deadlines. 4. Run a Pre-Submission Audit Prior to submission, conduct an internal review or partner-supported audit to verify measure completeness, denominator eligibility, and coding accuracy. This helps avoid penalties or CMS rejections due to errors or data mismatches. 5. Use a CMS-Approved Qualified Registry Qualified Registries offer streamlined data aggregation, measure mapping, performance tracking, and direct submission to CMS. They help reduce the manual burden on internal teams while improving reporting accuracy and efficiency.

Find the Right Support For dermatology practices navigating complex quality reporting requirements, partnering with a CMS-approved Qualified Registry, like Quantician, can provide essential structure, strategy, and relief from administrative burden.

Qualified Registries can:

• Aggregate data across EHRs, labs, and other systems
• Recommend high-impact measures tailored to your specialty and patient population
• Monitor performance throughout the year to flag gaps and improvement areas
• Validate and submit data directly to CMS, ensuring compliance and accuracy
• Support penalty avoidance and optimize performance-based incentives

Whether you're a solo provider or part of a multi-site group, the right registry partner can make your reporting process more predictable, scalable, and aligned with long-term success.

Final Thought As public awareness peaks during UV Safety Month, dermatologists are doubling down on education, prevention, and early detection. But beneath that clinical commitment lies an operational one: ensuring your care is accurately measured, documented, and reported.

With Quantician, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Ready to turn your reporting from reactive to reliable? Let’s talk. Visit quantician.com to connect with our team or schedule a demo today.