Urology sits at a unique intersection in MACRA MIPS: a large share of urology patients arrive by referral from primary care, and a meaningful share get referred back out for oncology treatment or co-managed care. That referral flow shapes which measures matter most for urology practices, particularly around care coordination, in a way that’s less central to specialties with more self-contained patient populations. 

This guide covers what urology practices need to know about MIPS compliance and what to look for in an EHR built around referral-heavy urology workflows. 

Please note that MIPS measures, thresholds, and eligibility rules are updated by CMS every performance year. This guide reflects general reporting themes for urology but you should always confirm current requirements at CMS QPP before making reporting decisions.

 

Recognize Why Referral Flow Matters for Your Score

Urology practices exchange information with referring and receiving providers constantly: a PCP refers a patient for elevated PSA, a urologist refers a prostate cancer diagnosis to oncology, and the loop often needs to close back to the original referring provider. That flow is exactly what Promoting Interoperability measures are built to reward, which means urology practices are often already doing the coordination work, it just needs to be documented and transmitted in a way that counts. 

What to look for: Secure referral and results communication built into the EHR, so the coordination that already happens clinically gets captured for reporting without a separate step.

Build PSA Tracking Into Routine Documentation

PSA screening and follow-up show up across several urology quality measures, and the reporting requirement depends on structured, trackable data over time, not a single note that a PSA was checked. Longitudinal tracking matters here: what the trend looks like, what follow-up was recommended, and whether that follow-up happened. 

What to look for: PSA tracking that carries forward across visits automatically, rather than requiring staff to pull historical values manually each time.

Document Incontinence and Catheter-Related Measures With Enough Detail

Urinary incontinence management and catheter-associated UTI prevention are recurring measure areas in urology, and both require documentation specific enough to satisfy structured reporting, not general notes about symptoms or catheter status. This is an area where templates matter more than provider habit, since the same clinical care can be documented in ways that either do or don’t satisfy the measure. 

What to look for: Templates built specifically for incontinence assessment and catheter care documentation, matched to how urology visits actually unfold.

Coordinate With Oncology Without Duplicating Work

For patients who move from a urology diagnosis into oncology treatment, MIPS measures around cancer treatment planning and communication apply, but the urology practice usually isn’t the one delivering that treatment. The reporting challenge is documenting the diagnosis, staging, and referral clearly enough that the coordination itself is visible and countable, without the urology practice having to track the oncology treatment plan in full. 

What to look for: Clear documentation pathways for diagnosis and referral hand-off that don’t require duplicating records another practice already owns.

Treat Cost and Quality as Connected, Not Separate

Because urology involves a mix of office visits, procedures, and referred-out treatment, the Cost performance category reflects a wider range of care than the visits happening inside the practice. Clean, consistent coding at the point of care, and clear documentation of what was and wasn’t managed directly, protects performance in this category even though it isn’t something the practice actively “reports” the way quality measures are reported. 

What to look for: Coding support that accounts for urology’s mix of office-based and procedural care. 

Generic EHR vs. Specialty Urology EHR 

FAQ 

Which urology measures are most commonly reported?

PSA screening and follow-up, incontinence management, and catheter-associated UTI prevention are among the most frequently reported, though the right priority depends on a practice’s specific patient mix. 

How does referral volume affect Promoting Interoperability scoring?

Urology practices with high referral volume are often already doing the coordination work these measures reward. The key is making sure that communication is documented and transmitted in a way that counts toward reporting, not just handled informally. 

What documentation supports prostate cancer treatment measures?

Clear staging, diagnosis documentation, and a visible referral hand-off to oncology, even when the urology practice isn’t managing the ongoing treatment itself. 

Does my practice need to track oncology outcomes if we refer patients out?

Generally no. The reporting focus for the referring urology practice is on clear diagnosis and hand-off documentation, not on tracking treatment delivered elsewhere. 

Ready to See How Compulink Supports Urology MIPS Reporting? 

Urology Advantage is built around referral-heavy urology workflows, with PSA tracking and coordination tools designed for MACRA MIPS compliance. Schedule a demo to see how it fits your practice.

Please note that MIPS measures, thresholds, and eligibility rules are updated by CMS every performance year. This guide reflects general reporting themes for Urology but you should always confirm current requirements at CMS QPP before making reporting decisions.