The Acmeware Blog

Regulatory updates, Data Repository best practices, and healthcare IT insights from the team that built it.

Understanding the MIPS Complex Patient Bonus

The MIPS Complex Patient Bonus awards up to 10 points based on medical complexity (HCC scores) and social risk (dual eligibility ratio).

Read

Optimize Your MIPS Cost Category Score

The MIPS Cost category accounts for 30% of your score in 2024. Learn strategies to optimize performance across 29 cost measures.

Read

All Articles

2027 IPPS Final Rule

April 28, 2026

CMS published proposed changes to Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting and Medicare Promoting Interoperability programs for FY 2027.

Read

Understanding the MIPS Complex Patient Bonus

November 25, 2024

The MIPS Complex Patient Bonus awards up to 10 points based on medical complexity (HCC scores) and social risk (dual eligibility ratio).

Read

Optimize Your MIPS Cost Category Score

November 19, 2024

The MIPS Cost category accounts for 30% of your score in 2024. Learn strategies to optimize performance across 29 cost measures.

Read

Navigating Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Reporting

December 11, 2023

AUR reporting becomes mandatory for CY 2024 Promoting Interoperability. This guide covers NHSN registration, MEDITECH build, and mapping.

Read

2024 QPP Final Rule

November 22, 2023

CMS kept the MIPS threshold at 75 points, finalized five new cost measures, 16 MVPs, and expanded PI requirements in the 2024 QPP Final Rule.

Read

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

November 10, 2025

CMS finalized six new MVPs, 190 quality measures, PI security changes, a new AI safety improvement activity, and eCR suppression for the 2026 QPP.

Read

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

July 24, 2025

CMS proposed six new MVPs, 190 quality measures, a continued 75-point threshold, and PI changes including TEFCA bonus and eCR suppression for 2026.

Read

2024 OPPS Final Rule

December 1, 2023

CMS finalized two new OQR measures and modified three, while notably retaining the Left Without Being Seen measure due to worsening LWBS rates.

Read

2026 OPPS Final Rule

November 26, 2025

CMS finalized the Emergency Care Access eCQM replacing two ED measures, removed four measures, and extended voluntary CT radiation eCQM reporting.

Read

2026 IPF PPS Final Rule

August 8, 2025

CMS finalized removing four IPFQR measures, extending the ED Visit measure to a 2-year period, and adjusting the ECE policy to 60 days.

Read

2026 IPPS Final Rule

August 8, 2025

CMS finalized removing four measures, reinstating COVID-19 patients in outcome measures, and updating PI security and SAFER Guides requirements.

Read

2026 OPPS Proposed Rule

July 24, 2025

CMS proposed the Emergency Care Access eCQM, removal of five measures including COVID-19 HCP and SDOH, and extended CT radiation voluntary reporting.

Read

2026 IPF PPS Proposed Rule

April 30, 2025

CMS proposed removing four IPFQR measures, extending the ED Visit measure to a 2-year period, and solicited feedback on a future IPF star rating system.

Read

2026 IPPS Proposed Rule

April 23, 2025

CMS proposed removing four measures including COVID-19 HCP and SDOH, modifying stroke and THA/TKA measures, and updating PI security requirements.

Read

2024 QPP Proposed Rule

August 7, 2023

CMS proposed an 82-point threshold, five new MVPs, five new cost measures, and expanded PI requirements for the 2024 QPP.

Read

2024 IPPS Final Rule

August 15, 2023

CMS finalized three new eCQMs, measure modifications and removals, and mandatory SAFER Guides attestation in the FY 2024 IPPS Final Rule.

Read

2024 IPF PPS Final Rule

August 11, 2023

CMS finalized three health equity measures, a patient experience measure, two removals, and a voluntary validation pilot for the IPFQR Program.

Read

2024 OPPS Proposed Rule

August 3, 2023

CMS proposed three new OQR measures including a patient-reported outcomes measure, modified three existing measures, and proposed removing LWBS.

Read

2024 IPPS Proposed Rule

April 26, 2023

CMS proposed three new eCQMs, three measure modifications, three removals, and mandatory SAFER Guides attestation in the FY 2024 IPPS Proposed Rule.

Read

2024 IPF PPS Proposed Rule

April 19, 2023

CMS proposed three health equity measures, a patient experience measure, two measure removals, and a validation pilot for the IPFQR Program.

Read

Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care

March 20, 2023

Understanding the difference between palliative care and hospice care is essential for accurate quality reporting and eCQM denominator exclusions.

Read

New Requirements to Reduce Health Care Disparities

March 20, 2023

Effective January 2023, Joint Commission accredited organizations must meet new requirements addressing health care disparities as a quality priority.

Read

2023 OPPS Final Rule

November 29, 2022

CMS finalized OP-31 as voluntary, aligned chart-abstracted timing with calendar years, and added new validation targeting criteria.

Read

2023 QPP Final Rule

November 16, 2022

CMS finalized five new MVPs, a 75-point threshold with no exceptional performance bonus, and PI changes including required PDMP query.

Read

SAFER Guides-Contingency Planning

November 16, 2022

CMS now requires SAFER Guides attestation for Promoting Interoperability. Learn why EHR contingency planning is critical for patient safety.

Read

Quality

2027 IPPS Final Rule

April 28, 2026

CMS published proposed changes to Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting and Medicare Promoting Interoperability programs for FY 2027.

Read

Understanding the MIPS Complex Patient Bonus

November 25, 2024

The MIPS Complex Patient Bonus awards up to 10 points based on medical complexity (HCC scores) and social risk (dual eligibility ratio).

Read

Optimize Your MIPS Cost Category Score

November 19, 2024

The MIPS Cost category accounts for 30% of your score in 2024. Learn strategies to optimize performance across 29 cost measures.

Read

Navigating Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Reporting

December 11, 2023

AUR reporting becomes mandatory for CY 2024 Promoting Interoperability. This guide covers NHSN registration, MEDITECH build, and mapping.

Read

2024 QPP Final Rule

November 22, 2023

CMS kept the MIPS threshold at 75 points, finalized five new cost measures, 16 MVPs, and expanded PI requirements in the 2024 QPP Final Rule.

Read

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

November 10, 2025

CMS finalized six new MVPs, 190 quality measures, PI security changes, a new AI safety improvement activity, and eCR suppression for the 2026 QPP.

Read

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

July 24, 2025

CMS proposed six new MVPs, 190 quality measures, a continued 75-point threshold, and PI changes including TEFCA bonus and eCR suppression for 2026.

Read

2024 OPPS Final Rule

December 1, 2023

CMS finalized two new OQR measures and modified three, while notably retaining the Left Without Being Seen measure due to worsening LWBS rates.

Read

2026 OPPS Final Rule

November 26, 2025

CMS finalized the Emergency Care Access eCQM replacing two ED measures, removed four measures, and extended voluntary CT radiation eCQM reporting.

Read

2026 IPF PPS Final Rule

August 8, 2025

CMS finalized removing four IPFQR measures, extending the ED Visit measure to a 2-year period, and adjusting the ECE policy to 60 days.

Read

2026 IPPS Final Rule

August 8, 2025

CMS finalized removing four measures, reinstating COVID-19 patients in outcome measures, and updating PI security and SAFER Guides requirements.

Read

2026 OPPS Proposed Rule

July 24, 2025

CMS proposed the Emergency Care Access eCQM, removal of five measures including COVID-19 HCP and SDOH, and extended CT radiation voluntary reporting.

Read

2026 IPF PPS Proposed Rule

April 30, 2025

CMS proposed removing four IPFQR measures, extending the ED Visit measure to a 2-year period, and solicited feedback on a future IPF star rating system.

Read

2026 IPPS Proposed Rule

April 23, 2025

CMS proposed removing four measures including COVID-19 HCP and SDOH, modifying stroke and THA/TKA measures, and updating PI security requirements.

Read

2024 QPP Proposed Rule

August 7, 2023

CMS proposed an 82-point threshold, five new MVPs, five new cost measures, and expanded PI requirements for the 2024 QPP.

Read

2024 IPPS Final Rule

August 15, 2023

CMS finalized three new eCQMs, measure modifications and removals, and mandatory SAFER Guides attestation in the FY 2024 IPPS Final Rule.

Read

2024 IPF PPS Final Rule

August 11, 2023

CMS finalized three health equity measures, a patient experience measure, two removals, and a voluntary validation pilot for the IPFQR Program.

Read

2024 OPPS Proposed Rule

August 3, 2023

CMS proposed three new OQR measures including a patient-reported outcomes measure, modified three existing measures, and proposed removing LWBS.

Read

2024 IPPS Proposed Rule

April 26, 2023

CMS proposed three new eCQMs, three measure modifications, three removals, and mandatory SAFER Guides attestation in the FY 2024 IPPS Proposed Rule.

Read

2024 IPF PPS Proposed Rule

April 19, 2023

CMS proposed three health equity measures, a patient experience measure, two measure removals, and a validation pilot for the IPFQR Program.

Read

Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care

March 20, 2023

Understanding the difference between palliative care and hospice care is essential for accurate quality reporting and eCQM denominator exclusions.

Read

New Requirements to Reduce Health Care Disparities

March 20, 2023

Effective January 2023, Joint Commission accredited organizations must meet new requirements addressing health care disparities as a quality priority.

Read

2023 OPPS Final Rule

November 29, 2022

CMS finalized OP-31 as voluntary, aligned chart-abstracted timing with calendar years, and added new validation targeting criteria.

Read

2023 QPP Final Rule

November 16, 2022

CMS finalized five new MVPs, a 75-point threshold with no exceptional performance bonus, and PI changes including required PDMP query.

Read

SAFER Guides-Contingency Planning

November 16, 2022

CMS now requires SAFER Guides attestation for Promoting Interoperability. Learn why EHR contingency planning is critical for patient safety.

Read

Data Repository

Accessing Data Across SQL Servers

March 12, 2019

Learn how to set up Linked Servers and handle collation differences to combine MEDITECH DR data with third-party SQL databases.

Read

Clean TSQL Formatting

December 21, 2018

Clean T-SQL formatting improves readability, speeds debugging, boosts productivity, and enables more advanced report development.

Read

Thought Leadership

MUSE Views Podcast

May 10, 2024

Acmeware President Joel Benware discusses the Empower platform, AI-driven analytics, and Downtime Defender on the MUSE Views podcast.

Read

External Links in MEDITECH

July 13, 2023

External Links in MEDITECH let users launch web-based reports, Power BI dashboards, and intranet resources directly from application menus.

Read

Emergency Preparedness in Healthcare

May 4, 2023

A structured six-phase approach to EHR downtime planning that keeps clinical data accessible and patient care safe during outages.

Read

Know Your Data

May 13, 2020

Data Repository and SQL Server tools help you visualize MEDITECH data, build better NPR and RD reports, and train new analysts faster.

Read

The Value of Validating eCQM Data

November 13, 2018

Continuous eCQM data validation prevents submission errors, catches mapping issues early, and prepares your facility for CMS audits.

Read

Blog

01.

Industry trends, regulatory updates, and expert perspective on the MEDITECH ecosystem.

Articles

Company News & Events

02.

Product launches, partnerships, and what's happening at Acmeware.

Articles