The Access to Medical Imaging Coalition released a statement Thursday applauding CMS for its proposal that clinician consultation of appropriate use criteria (AUC) related to advanced imaging services be considered a high-weighted improvement activity for the 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance period.

Tim Trysla, executive director of AMIC, said in a statement that this update shows CMS is taking AUC consultations in radiology seriously.

“AMIC has long touted the benefits of AUC and is pleased that CMS is reaffirming their commitment to putting patients first by making this a high-weighted improvement activity,” he said. “This proposal underscores the importance of AUC’s role in clinical decision support (CDS) to ensure patients receive the appropriate imaging service at the appropriate time.”

According to the new proposal, clinicians will be able to choose this new improvement activity if they are using CDS when ordering advanced imaging services. This would help clinicians reach the required number of high-weighted improvement activities needed to receive maximum benefits under MIPS.

“We cannot understate the importance of CMS identifying consulting AUC as a high-weighted activity as this marks a significant step toward MIPS eligible clinicians or groups obtaining a ‘full credit’ score of 40 points under the improvement activities performance category,” Trysla said in the same statement.