2026 MIPS Improvement Activity IA_AHW_1: Chronic Care and Preventative Care Management for Empaneled Patients
Written by Tucker Deyett, Dedicated Advisor, ReportingMD. Source data: CMS Quality Payment Program 2026 measure specifications and benchmark files.
Subcategory: Achieving Health Equity
At a glance
IA_AHW_1, Chronic Care and Preventative Care Management for Empaneled Patients, is a 2026 MIPS improvement activity in the Achieving Health Equity subcategory, included in 7 MVPs. For PY2026 activities are not weighted: clinicians with small practice, rural, non-patient-facing, or HPSA status attest to one activity, all other Traditional MIPS participants attest to two, and MVP participants attest to one.
Activity description
In order to receive credit for this activity, a MIPS eligible clinician must manage chronic and preventive care for empaneled patients (that is, patients assigned to care teams for the purpose of population health management), which could include one or more of the following actions:
• Provide patients annually with an opportunity for development and/or adjustment of an individualized plan of care as appropriate to age and health status, including health risk appraisal; gender, age and condition-specific preventive care services; and plan of care for chronic conditions;
• Use evidence based, condition-specific pathways for care of chronic conditions (for example, hypertension, diabetes, depression, asthma, and heart failure). These might include, but are not limited to, the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program (DRP) and the NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program (HSRP);
• Use pre-visit planning, that is, preparations for conversations or actions to propose with patient before an in-office visit to optimize preventive care and team management of patients with chronic conditions;
• Use panel support tools, (that is, registry functionality) or other technology that can use clinical data to identify trends or data points in patient records to identify services due;
• Use predictive analytical models to predict risk, onset and progression of chronic diseases; and/or
• Use reminders and outreach (e.g., phone calls, emails, postcards, patient portals, and community health workers where available) to alert and educate patients about services due; and/or routine medication reconciliation.
Activity details
- Activity ID: IA_AHW_1
- Subcategory: Achieving Health Equity
- Programs: Traditional MIPS, APP, APP Plus
- First performance year: 2017
MVPs that include this activity
Coordinating Stroke Care to Promote Prevention and Cultivate Positive Outcomes; Advancing Care for Heart Disease; Optimal Care for Kidney Health; Value in Primary Care; Rehabilitative Support for Musculoskeletal Care; Complete Ophthalmologic Care; Pulmonology Care
Need help with IA_AHW_1?
ReportingMD is a CMS qualified registry and healthcare data pipe with a 100% submission rate since 2001. We confirm IA attestations and documentation with every client before submission. Talk to a ReportingMD advisor or browse the full 2026 MIPS directory.