Medicare Quality Payment Programs
The way healthcare professionals are paid under Medicare has been transitioning from a volume-based payment system to a value-based payment system, for years. The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) called for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to step up their efforts. CMS responded with the Quality Payment Program, which offers two tracks for participation: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternate Payment Models (APMs). Beginning in 2019, MIPS and Advanced APMs will provide incentives to eligible clinicians who meet program requirements. These models will also change the way quality care is assessed. The movement will take years to fulfill, and it will require practices to remain current on developments and deadlines. As the implementation of the Quality Payment Program unfolds, consult this page for the latest news, assessments, and strategies for success. Learn More >
Sneak a Peak at the 2018 QPP Proposed Rule
June 21, 2017 | Renee Dustman
A proposed rule for 2018 updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) holds few surprises, except for one: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to increase the low-volume threshold to exempt more clinicians from the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
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AMA Makes MIPS Look Easy
June 22, 2017 | Renee Dustman
A new video and step-by-step guide developed by the American Medical Association walks physician practices through the steps they need to take, by Oct. 2, to meet the minimum reporting requirement for this first performance year of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). (more…)
Ignoring This Deadline Could Prove Costly
June 6, 2017 | Renee Dustman
Healthcare professionals who are eligible to participate in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program this year must instead report under the Merit-based Incentive Program (MIPS) to avoid a negative payment adjustment in 2018. Not EHR-ready? You may qualify for an exemption.
CMS Predicts Qualifying APM Participants
June 5, 2017 | Renee Dustman
Physicians need wonder no more whether they'll don the honor of Qualifying Participant (QP) in an Advanced Alternate Payment Model (APM), this year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced over the weekend predictive QP status for 2017 Advanced APMs.
CMS predicts nearly
Preparing Systems for MIPS
June 5, 2017 | Maria Bondoc
The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), like the adoption of ICD-10, will drive changes in systems configuration. These changes are necessary to bill services accurately from the provider side, and process claims correctly from the payer side. These configuration changes should be started
Easy Way to Determine MIPS Participation Status
May 9, 2017 | Renee Dustman
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made it easier for clinicians to determine their eligibility in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS): A new interactive online tool allows clinicians to determine their status simply by entering their national provider identifier
MIPS Eligibility Coming In a Letter
April 27, 2017 | Renee Dustman
Not sure if your physician practice is eligible to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)? No worries: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reviewing claims and letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in MIPS.
In late April through
New Resources Help Navigate MIPS
April 21, 2017 | Renee Dustman
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted three new resources to its Quality Payment Program Educational Resources webpage:
MIPS Participation Fact Sheet: This fact sheet answers basic questions about eligibility in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
MIPS Webinar Answers Many Questions
April 13, 2017 | Renee Dustman
On April 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a webinar to provide information on the Advancing Care Information (ACI) performance category of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
The ACI category is just one component of MIPS. For the 2017 performance year
Slavitt Says Final MACRA Rule Proves CMS Listened
October 25, 2016 | Brad Ericson
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt points to the agency's recent MACRA final rule as an example of how it's listening to healthcare stakeholders. His comments were made in a recent blog.
The final rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization
ICD-10 Leniency Ends While MACRA Advances
October 21, 2016 | Nancy Clark
ICD-10 presents a double-punch of changes while reporting standards are tightened. Entering its second year, it includes thousands of new codes implemented October 1, 2016. For example, the new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code set has:
1943 new codes,
422 revised codes, and
305 deleted codes.
June 5, 2017
