IA_PSPA_31Patient Safety and Practice Assessment

Patient Medication Risk Education

2026 MIPS Improvement Activities

At a glance
Activity ID
IA_PSPA_31
Subcategory
Patient Safety and Practice Assessment
Category
Improvement Activities

Objective

Educate patients regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use, thus reducing their risk of overdose.

Activity description

In order to receive credit for this activity, MIPS eligible clinicians must provide both written and verbal education regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use for patients who are prescribed both benzodiazepines and opioids. Education must be completed for at least 75% of qualifying patients and occur: (1) at the time of initial co-prescribing and again following greater than 6 months of co- prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids, or (2) at least once per MIPS performance period for patients taking concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine therapy.

Suggested documentation

Evidence of both written and verbal education regarding the risks of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use provided to patients who are prescribed both benzodiazepines and opioids. Include both of the following elements:

1) Examples of education provided – Copies of written education (e.g., pamphlets, patient portal screenshot) and verbal education (e.g., scripts/descriptions of what must be said) provided; AND

2) Education provided to patients co-prescribed – Education must be completed for at least 75% of qualifying patients and occur a) at the time of initial co-prescribing and again following greater than 6 months of co-prescribing of benzodiazepines and opioids; or b) at least once per MIPS performance period for patients taking concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine therapy.

Improvement Activity details reference the CMS Quality Payment Program and change each performance year. Confirm requirements against the official CMS pages before attesting.