IA_BMH_9Behavioral and Mental Health

Unhealthy Alcohol Use for Patients with Co-occurring Conditions of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Ambulatory Care Patients

2026 MIPS Improvement Activities

At a glance
Activity ID
IA_BMH_9
Subcategory
Behavioral and Mental Health
Category
Improvement Activities

Objective

Help patients better manage or overcome their alcohol and/or other substance abuse challenges through screenings and counseling.

Activity description

Individual MIPS eligible clinicians or groups must regularly engage in integrated prevention and treatment interventions, including screening and brief counseling (for example: NQF #2152) for patients with co-occurring conditions of mental health and substance abuse. MIPS eligible clinicians would attest that 60 percent for the CY 2018 Quality Payment Program performance period, and 75 percent beginning in the 2019 performance period, of their ambulatory care patients are screened for unhealthy alcohol use.

Suggested documentation

Evidence of regular integrated prevention and treatment interventions with documented screening and brief counseling for patients with diagnosed coexistence of a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Include both of the following elements:

1) Documented screening and brief counseling – Screenshots from electronic health record (EHR) or from other software/tools demonstrating integrated prevention and treatment interventions (e.g., evidence of screening and brief counseling for patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders); AND

2) Evidence of percent of patients screened – 75% of ambulatory care patients are screened for unhealthy alcohol use.

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