MACRA Training
Excel in MACRA 2022
Year 6 MIPS & APMs Training
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through Apr 30th
MACRA Proficiency Course
The 2022 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance threshold is higher than ever, which means few clinicians will receive zero-payment adjustments in Year 6. It also means that incentive payments—and financial penalties—will be at their highest since the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
Are you up to speed on MACRA 2022 requirements? Get your annual MACRA training from AAPC, the leader in medical coding and healthcare business compliance—and ensure your organization's Year 6 performance earns optimal Quality Payment Program (QPP) rewards.
Who Should Take the MACRA Proficiency Course?
- Medical coders who understand the QPP are essential for clinicians to earn full credit for the quality care they provide.
- Newly certified coders and CPC students entering the field with MACRA know-how have greater professional value in helping their teams succeed.
- Practice managers who can identify and address performance gaps will significantly improve their profit margin and boost job satisfaction. Need to update in the content.
- Clinicians and physicians who recognize MACRA opportunities can leverage them and reap optimum rewards from the program.
- Auditors and CDI specialists responsible for reviewing coding and clinical records will ensure claims and data submissions meet requirements and support Quality measures. They'll also know which documentation to retain in the event of a MACRA audit.
- Medical billers will be equipped to serve as the organization’s last line of defense, verifying that claims are submitted in accordance with MACRA requirements.
AAPC MACRA Proficiency Course
This course includes:
- Comprehensive MACRA training with interactive lecture, checklist tools, Quality and Improvement Activities measures lists, and more
- Online textbook — AAPC's MACRA MADE EASY: Guidance for APM and MIPS Proficiency
- MACRA Proficiency Assessment
- 7 CEUs & MACRA Proficiency Certificate upon successful completion (one-time use only)
Whether you're new to the QPP or have been participating since its inception in 2017, AAPC will prepare you to excel in MACRA Year 6. And the best part is—it only takes 1 day (6 to 7 hours)!
Complete your training in a single sitting—or extend your coursework over a week. The choice is yours. You’re free to take as much time as you need to earn your 2021 MACRA Proficiency Certificate.
In the AAPC's MACRA Proficiency Course, you'll learn:
- How to define your practice’s goals for the QPP performance period
- Coding requirements to ensure your clinicians receive proper credit in MIPS
- Which Quality measures best align with your practice
- Whether it's more advantageous to report MIPS as a group or individually
- How to reap rewards with Improvement Activities
- How to seize bonus point opportunities
- Why patient relationship codes are important and how to use them
- How to determine if you qualify for an exception or category reweighting
- Reporting requirements for MIPS and MIPS APMs
- Special requirements for small practices, non-patient-facing providers, MIPS APM participants, and more
- How to report MIPS data when providers bill under more than one TIN
- The best submission mechanism for MIPS Quality data
- To understand the APM track and key distinctions between MIPS APMs, Advanced APMs, and All-Payer Advanced APMs
- Steps to take before you decide to enter an APM agreement
- How to review performance feedback reports to identify your most costly patient population conditions and diagnoses
MACRA Proficiency Course FAQs
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How much time is required to complete the MACRA Proficiency Course?
The MACRA Proficiency Course is self-directed and takes an average of 7 hours to complete. The training portion of the course requires approximately 5 hours. Students are then given 90 minutes to complete the MACRA Proficiency Exam.
You will be given two exam attempts and must complete your training course within one year of course enrollment.
How is the MACRA Proficiency Course structured?
AAPC's MACRA Proficiency Course will guide you through key concepts related to the Quality Payment Program (QPP), enacted by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The course is broken down into the following sections:
- MACRA Eligibility and Exceptions
- Payment Adjustments and Bonus Options
- MIPS for Small Practices
- Alternate Payment Models
- MIPS - Overview
- MIPS - Quality
- MIPS - Cost
- MIPS - Promoting Interoperability
- MIPS - Improvement Activities
- Calculating the MIPS Final Score
- Calculating the Final Score Under MIPS APMs
- Tips for MACRA Compliance in 2022
- At-A-Glance MIPS Reporting Requirements
- Quality Measures Classified as "High Priority"
- High and Medium Weighted Improvement Activities
- MACRA Terminology and Common Acronyms
Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared for the MACRA Proficiency Assessment and to earn their certificate and CEUs.
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What is involved with the AAPC MACRA Proficiency Assessment?
The MACRA Proficiency Assessment consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering essential concepts of CMS’s QPP. You will be given 90 minutes to complete the exam and must score 70% or higher to pass. Your registration includes two exam attempts.
You have 1 year from your registration date to complete the program.
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Can I use this designation on my signature line with my credential?
Once you earn your MACRA Proficiency Certificate, you may add "AAPC MACRA Proficient" to your signature line, prefixed by the certificate year (e.g.: Jane Smith, CPC, 2022 AAPC MACRA Proficient).
The MACRA Proficient credential validates your knowledge of the Medicare QPP tracks for 1 year. Since MACRA requirements change annually, you’ll need to earn your certificate each year.
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Will I be able to renew this annually?
The MACRA Proficiency Course and certificate assessment for next year will be available in the fall of this year.
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Do you have to be a coder to benefit from this training?
Coding experience or previous employment in the healthcare environment is recommended but not necessary. If you’re planning to enter this field and have begun professional training, you'll benefit greatly from this course and be more valuable as a prospective hire.
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What are the advantages of opting into the QPP if our participation isn't required?
MIPS-eligible clinicians who voluntarily opt into MIPS gain an average 8.2% in Part B reimbursement, according to CMS. When you consider an extra 8.2% on every Part B item and service billed by a provider, the advantages are clear. For example, a potential annual Medicare reimbursement of $100,000 becomes $118,000.
Additionally, clinicians who voluntarily report their data receive a feedback report from CMS, allowing them to see how their performance may affect future payments.
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Do hospitals need to know about MACRA?
70% of physicians are now in hospital-owned practices. Hospitals that are concerned with Medicare Part B payments and practice costs should understand the implications of MACRA.
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We work at a risk adjustment Medicare Advantage Plan–do we need this information?
MACRA primarily affects Part B clinicians. MA plans will need to understand the implications of MACRA changes.
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Is MACRA here to stay?
MACRA passed with bipartisan support and will endure as a catalyst for ongoing improvements in the quality of U.S. healthcare.
Last Reviewed on Jan 11, 2022 by AAPC Thought Leadership Team
